Thuya Aung recalls driving through the night last week searching for medical oxygen for his father, who was suffering from Covid-19 at the family home in South Dagon township near Yangon. Thuya’s mission meant defying the overnight curfew imposed by Myanmar’s military junta but he had no choice.
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“Time was running out,” the 29-year-old said. “So I have to go out although I know I could be arrested or get shot by soldiers on the way.”
Eventually his mother called. His father had died.
Myanmar’s health authorities on Monday reported 5,014 new infections, surpassing 5,000 in a single day for the first time. The price of oxygen has been driven up by inflated demand. There is already a shortage, leading to queues outside shops. Others search on social media.
A Yangon resident collects a cylinder of medical oxygen from a factory. Photo: EPA
Thuya’s father had been diagnosed six days earlier before being treated at home. The family had taken him to hospital but were told to return home as there was no space.
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“Some numbers [we called] couldn’t be reached, some answered [and said oxygen] was no longer available,” Thuya said. “So we had to let him go.
