Severe rice shortages are gripping Kengtung Township in Eastern Shan State, leaving villagers struggling to find enough food and raising alarm over a worsening food crisis in the region.

Local reports confirm that around 30 villages in the township have been deeply affected by last year’s devastating floods and landslides. These natural disasters not only wiped out crops but also created conditions that led to a surge in rat infestations, further decimating rice fields in the mountainous areas.

“This year, rats have destroyed entire rice fields. Crops were wiped out, and many families now have nothing to eat,” said Dr. Nan Malawan, a health volunteer working in the area. “Some people are surviving on borrowed rice, while others have resorted to eating whatever vegetables they can find. The situation is dire.”

With rice supplies critically low, villagers are turning to alternative food sources such as pumpkins, taro, and wild vegetables. Those with the means are buying rice, while others are forced to barter labor for food.

“Many are relying on borrowed rice from the village head or working in exchange for food,” Dr. Nan Malawan explained. “People are barely scraping by.”

The crisis extends beyond Kengtung. Similar food shortages have been reported in Mong Pyin Township, where rat infestations have ravaged local rice fields.

“This year is especially difficult. We hear about the same food shortages from patients visiting the clinic in Mong Peng,” Dr. Nang Malawan added.

The affected villages, located about 25 miles from Kengtung town, are particularly vulnerable due to poor transportation infrastructure and a lack of basic services such as electricity and telecommunications. Most residents rely on upland farming, making them highly susceptible to natural disasters and food insecurity.

As hunger deepens, villagers are calling for urgent intervention from humanitarian organizations and local authorities. Without immediate aid, the crisis could lead to severe malnutrition and long-term health issues for those already struggling to survive.