By Ma Ma - Dec 30, 2024

Reports of young people going missing have been circulating frequently in the media and on social networking platforms.

Due to this situation, workers living on the outskirts of Yangon have expressed increasing anxiety about their daily commute to and from work.

Currently, many workers travel to central areas of Yangon for job opportunities, relying mostly on YBS bus services for transportation.

“The commute to work in the morning is normal, but I always feel uneasy on the way back. I get worried when buses are delayed or overcrowded. My family keeps calling to check if I’m on the bus or if I’ve reached home. My parents only stop worrying when I arrive home safely. I used to hang out with friends at the end of the month in the past but now, with rising prices and frequent reports of disappearances, I haven’t gone out in a long time,” said a woman from Shwe Pyi Thar Township.

It is also reported that foot crowd decreases significantly after 7 PM, and shops that used to stay open late now see a drop in sales due to concerns raised by ongoing incidents, according to vendors.

“We still stick together in groups on the bus on the way back from the factory, so we don’t feel much fear then. But the walk from the bus stop to my home is terrifying. Sometimes we encounter military trucks patrolling. Once I get home, I don’t go out again. After 8 PM, we lock the gate,” said a factory worker.

Currently, it has become difficult to hire taxis to travel from downtown areas to the outskirts, and taxi fares have also increased. Additionally, it has been noted that YBS bus services become less frequent after 7 PM.