For more than five months, a military checkpoint in Nyaung Shwe Township, Shan State, has been preventing the transportation of essential food and supplies, worsening the hardships faced by displaced families in the region.

Since October 2024, the military checkpoint at Hmawbi Village has blocked the passage of rice, cooking oil, medicine, and household fuel, forcing displaced people to rely on scarce local resources. A displaced woman told SHAN that only small amounts of personal food and drinks are permitted through, while larger supplies are either seized or require payment to pass.

“We’ve had no assistance for nearly half a year. The authorities don’t provide any financial support, yet they confiscate our goods. To get anything through, we have to pay fees,” she explained.

A displaced man added that both the military and the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia have restricted humanitarian aid, making it increasingly difficult to secure food.

“We have no choice but to buy rice from nearby villages. Most trucks can’t pass through the Hmawbi checkpoint, and aid workers are too afraid to come,” he said.

As a result, food prices have skyrocketed. Displaced residents report paying tens of thousands of Kyats in checkpoints just to bring in essential goods.

“A single yellow container of cooking oil now costs 120,000 Kyats, and a 24-pound bag of rice costs 150,000 Kyats,” another displaced woman shared the information.

The Hmawbi checkpoint has developed a notorious reputation for excessive fees and strict inspections. Situated at a key intersection connecting Loikaw Road to the south, Panglong (ပၢင်လွင်း) Road to the west, Taunggyi Road to the north, and Hsihseng Township Road to the east, it remains a major obstacle for those trying to access food and supplies.

With no resolution in sight, frustration is mounting among displaced families. The blockade continues to limit access to life-sustaining necessities, deepening the crisis for those already living in uncertainty and hardship.