Key facts
- Daily life in Yangon continues with curfews, checkpoints, and frequent blackouts.
- Inflation has caused food and fuel prices to skyrocket.
- Freedom of speech has been severely curtailed, with surveillance and risk of arrest.
- Underground activism and everyday acts of defiance persist.
- Community solidarity provides essential support amidst humanitarian challenges.
Six months after taking office as Myanmar's nominal president, Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 military coup, presides over a Yangon where daily life proceeds with a pervasive silence and fear. Residents are reluctant to discuss politics openly, despite the economic hardships and restrictions on freedom.
Streets once bustling with activity are now marked by military patrols and uncertainty. Daily routines are altered by curfews, unpredictable checkpoints, and frequent blackouts, while inflation has sent food and fuel prices soaring. Small businesses struggle to survive, and public transportation is unreliable.