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February 14, 2023

On the water with Myanmar's 'river cleaners'

Thousands in Myanmar have resorted to collecting waste from the Pazundaung Creek in Yangon after the military coup displaced them and denied them any means of a proper livelihood on land. 

Risking the murky, polluted waters, men, women, and even children scavenge to find recyclable materials to sell to traders, their only source of income since losing their jobs after the putsch that upended the economy and sparked widespread unrest.

On a good day, a picker can find trash worth 30,000 kyat ($10), but more often the take-home pay is around $3.

The waters also carry regular reminders of the breakdown of order in Yangon, where residents say crime is surging in the aftermath of the coup. The pickers regularly see dead bodies floating on the water.

Photos: AFP

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UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia