In Myanmar, the poor are selling their organs to survive

The American media outlet CNN has reported that the poor in Myanmar are selling their organs via social media to raise money.

It is stated that Myanmar nationals who find wealthy individuals to buy their organs contact intermediaries and travel to India to carry out the procedure.

According to the report in Independent Türkçe, the investigation identified at least three Facebook groups publishing advertisements in Burmese where users share organ offers.

'WE DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR DAUGHTER'

Maung Maung, who decided to sell his kidney after seeing his wife and child go hungry for days, states that he was in heavy debt and says the following:

"At that moment, I felt that life was very cruel. There was no other way for me to survive other than robbing or killing people for money. My wife was in the same situation. She also did not want to live in this world anymore. We did not commit suicide for the sake of our daughter."

Maung notes that he traveled to India in July 2023 after finding a person to buy his kidney. He explains that a Chinese-origin Myanmar businessperson paid him 10 million Myanmar Kyat (approximately 100 thousand TL) for the kidney.

'SELLING A PART OF YOUR BODY IS A DIFFICULT DECISION'

Organ sales are prohibited in both India and Myanmar. In India, organ donation is only permitted between relatives, with a few exceptions. However, it is noted that organ trafficking gangs are able to carry out these procedures illegally by preparing forged documents.

A 26-year-old Myanmar youth who posted an advertisement in Facebook groups in February to sell his kidney also says the following:

"Selling a part of your body is a difficult decision for anyone. No one wants to do this. I am doing my best to survive in such a difficult situation."

News Source: 12punto