In brief
In the wake of Myanmar's military coup in 2021 and subsequent civil war, villagers are resorting to selling kidneys to alleviate poverty and debt. Brokers operate clandestinely, facilitating illegal organ sales while victims like Zeya and Myo Win struggle with the dire consequences of their choices.
Article Text:As the aftermath of Myanmar's military coup continues to wreak havoc on the lives of its citizens, villagers are increasingly resorting to desperation-driven decisions, including the illegal sale of their kidneys. Zeya, a farm worker from a small village just outside Yangon, shared his story of how he sold his kidney to pay off debts and fulfill his dream of owning a home. “I wanted to own a house and pay off my debts—this led me to sell my kidney,” he lamented, reflecting the grim reality faced by many in his community.Since the coup in 2021, increasing poverty has forced individuals like Zeya into making harrowing choices. With a young family to support and living in his mother-in-law's thatched house, the pressures of financial strain became insurmountable as unemployment surged and food insecurity became widespread. Knowing others in his village had sold kidneys, Zeya began to explore the possibility, ultimately connecting with a broker.Despite the illegality of organ trading in both Myanmar and India, Zeya forged through a series of deceptive arrangements facilitated by the broker. “He arranged medical tests, and soon I was set to travel to India for surgery,” he recalled. By creating a fictitious family relationship between Zeya and the recipient, the broker manipulated necessary paperwork to secure approval. “The broker put my name in the recipient's family tree,” he explained, illustrating the lengths to which the desperate have to go.In a similar vein, Myo Win—another villager—narrated how he too had pretended to be related to a recipient, having memorized a script that defined their false relationship. He emphasized that he hadn’t been informed about the legal implications of selling his kidney, highlighting an alarming lack of awareness among potential donors. “I wouldn’t have done it if he told me it was illegal,” Myo Win confessed.The economic impact of the coup has propelled half of the population into poverty, according to the UNDP, leading to an upsurge in reports of illegal kidney sales. Alongside local brokers, individuals claim to assist others in buying or selling organs, further normalizing this illicit trade.As the world's demand for organs vastly outpaces supply, with estimates placing the black-market organ trade as high as 10%, the concerning trend among impoverished individuals in Myanmar echoes similar narratives from across Asia, where many impoverished people are lured into these transactions.Complications from surgery, loss of livelihood, and the ongoing trauma of their decisions have left Zeya and Myo Win grappling with their newfound realities. “I have no regrets,” Zeya stated, though he struggles with back pain and fear of future complications. Myo Win, now unemployed and still in debt, advised others against making the same choice he made. “It is not good,” he cautioned, a haunting reminder of the moral and physical toll extracted in the name of survival. As the military's grip tightens and citizens continue to navigate this dire landscape, the stories of individuals like Zeya and Myo Win cast a stark light on the intersection of poverty, desperation, and exploitation in contemporary Myanmar.
