A worsening fuel shortage in Taunggyi City, southern Shan State, is severely disrupting emergency ambulance services, leaving volunteer responders unable to reach patients in time and raising fears of preventable deaths.

The crisis, affecting much of Myanmar, has led to long queues at fuel stations, with vehicles waiting for hours under a rationing system. Volunteer groups say even charitable emergency ambulances are forced to queue alongside the public, delaying urgent medical response.

“The number of vehicles lining up for fuel every day is overwhelming. If an emergency call comes in while we are stuck in the queue, we are trapped—unable to move forward or backward. Since fuel is distributed on a ration basis, it creates a major problem. We can no longer leave immediately when called. No matter how critical the patient’s condition is, we simply cannot help if we don’t have fuel,” a volunteer from the Taunggyi Funeral Aid Group told SHAN.

Volunteers say multiple factors are compounding the crisis. Many emergency vehicles operated by social aid groups are unlicensed, making it difficult to purchase fuel at official stations. In addition, the “even/odd” license plate system restricts which days vehicles are allowed to refuel.

“Most volunteer vehicles are unlicensed, which makes it hard to buy fuel at stations. On top of that, the ‘even/odd’ license plate system adds another layer of difficulty. It’s not easy at all. Because we can no longer respond to emergency calls quickly, patients’ lives are in grave danger,” a volunteer driver said.

Similar challenges are being reported in Aungban, where emergency responders say they are unable to transport patients promptly due to the same fuel constraints.

“We want our emergency vehicles to be prioritized for fuel, just like government staff. It is devastating if a patient dies while we are stuck in a fuel queue—we feel helpless. We can no longer reach those who call for help as quickly as we used to,” an official from the Aungban Funeral Aid Association told SHAN.

The fuel shortage comes alongside soaring commodity prices, intensifying pressure on households already struggling with rising living costs.

Residents say the crisis is affecting not only transportation but also healthcare, social services, and daily livelihoods, with growing concerns that shortages of fuel, food, and medicine could worsen in the coming weeks.

Some residents attribute the worsening situation to global factors, including conflicts in the Middle East, which they believe are disrupting fuel supply chains and driving up prices.

As the crisis deepens, local communities warn that without urgent intervention, delays in emergency response could cost lives—particularly for those relying on volunteer ambulance services.