Desperate Myanmar Citizens, Including Maung Maung, Turn to Facebook to Sell Kidneys: ‘Blood Type O. DM Me’ Amid Economic Collapse
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
7 minutes read. Updated 1:04AM GMT Thurs, 5 Ser, 202ptembe4
In a desperate bid to survive the crushing poverty exacerbated by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, many of the country’s poorest citizens are turning to Facebook to sell their kidneys. This unsettling trend highlights the extreme lengths to which individuals are going to secure a livelihood amid a dire economic crisis.
The Desperate Plea
Maung Maung, a delivery driver from Mandalay, Myanmar, found himself at a breaking point in late 2022. After being detained and tortured by the military junta, he was released only to discover that his wife had taken out loans to keep their family afloat. With no job and mounting debt, Maung Maung turned to Facebook to offer his kidney for sale. “In that moment, I felt life was so harsh. There is no other way I could survive other than to rob or kill people for money,” he said, reflecting on his grim situation.
By July 2023, Maung Maung’s kidney was sold to a wealthy Chinese-Burmese businessman for 10 million Burmese kyat ($3,079), a sum nearly double the annual average urban household income in Myanmar.
A Widespread Crisis
CNN’s year-long investigation has uncovered that Maung Maung is not an isolated case. The illegal organ trade is flourishing on Facebook, with individuals selling their organs to wealthy buyers in countries like India. Despite the illegality of organ sales in both Myanmar and India, the market thrives, facilitated by agents who forge documents and arrange surgeries across borders.
The socio-political upheaval following Myanmar’s military coup has plunged nearly half of its 54 million people below the poverty line, doubling since 2017. The economic instability, coupled with widespread violence and unemployment, has driven many to sell their organs as a last resort.
Stories of Desperation
April, a 26-year-old from Yangon, shared her heartbreaking story of turning to Facebook to sell her kidney. After moving to Yangon at 18 to support her family and working in a garment factory for a meager salary, she faced rising costs and medical bills for her aunt. Desperate for financial relief, April posted an offer to sell her kidney, citing her blood type and urgent need for funds.
In the clandestine world of organ trading, buyers and sellers often work with intermediaries who facilitate the illegal transactions. These agents forge documents to bypass regulations and help arrange surgeries, defying laws intended to prevent such practices.
Healthcare and Legal Challenges
In Myanmar, kidney transplants are rare, with only 308 successful procedures reported between 1995 and 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing civil conflict have further strained the country’s healthcare system, leading many to seek transplants in India, where the sale of organs is also illegal.
Dr. Sunil Shroff, a transplant surgeon in India, noted the complexity of organ donation laws and the challenges faced by authorization committees. Despite stringent regulations, the high demand for transplants and the difficulty of verifying foreign documents create loopholes that agents exploit.
The Aftermath
A few days post-surgery, Maung Maung reflected on his decision while recovering in a New Delhi hospital. “I am suffering deep down when I look at my family. They have nothing. Meanwhile, I am also stressed about what lies ahead,” he said. Despite the pain and uncertainty about his future health, he believed selling his kidney was his only viable option.
April’s situation remains precarious as she prepares for her own surgery. The secrecy surrounding her decision has left her family unaware of the drastic step she is about to take.
The illegal organ trade in Myanmar underscores a tragic intersection of poverty, desperation, and global health crises. While it provides a lifeline for some, it also exposes the severe consequences of systemic failures and the human cost of ongoing conflict and economic instability.
Meta Description: Myanmar’s poorest are turning to Facebook to sell their kidneys amid a deepening economic crisis. Discover the stories behind this tragic phenomenon as desperation drives individuals to illegal organ trade.
