The junta has ordered the closure of rice warehouses and restricted sales of food in Palaw Township in Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, since 26 June, according to locals.

A local resident from Palaw Township said that the junta had restricted the sale of food from grocery stores and warehouses in the downtown areas and villages of Palaw Township, meaning that people could not buy all the food they needed.

'We are not allowed to buy more than five pyi of rice. (A pyi is a basket full and is equivalent to 2.13kg.) We are also not allowed to buy more than two one-litre bottles of cooking oil', said a Palaw resident.

Because the junta has restricted the trade in food it is impossible for people to buy large amounts of food to donate to groups who may require food, such as internally displaced people (IDPs), without the permission of the junta-appointed ward administrator.

Some residents believe that the junta has restricted food sales because it wants to deny PDFs and IDPs in Palaw Township access to food.

The restriction on food sales has already caused food shortages in IDP camps and among local PDFs.