Introduction
“For him,
Though I’m unsure of what truly matters,
For the people,
Human life holds greater importance.”
The above-mentioned one-line poem titled “Adhammaraja” was uploaded by writer and poet Maung Hla Myo (Chin Chaung Chan) on social media on 12 September. The poet explains that “Adhammaraja” refers to a “unrighteous king”.
The Bi-Weekly News Review by Burma News International (BNI)-Myanmar Peace Monitor (MPM) documents the data and events related to the lives lost and devastated during the floods, alongside the airstrike threats posed by the military council led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The junta’s threats of airstrikes
According to the BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor’s records, since the coup till 16 September 2024, the military council conducted 1,455 airstrike events across the country. (Each event involved at least two attacks, with some instances reaching up to ten strikes, indicating that the total number of airstrikes may be even higher.”
In August 2024, a total of 118 airstrike events were recorded, marking the highest number of airstrikes since the coup.
During a meeting with departmental officials in Taunggyi of Shan State on 3 September, the coup leader addressed the losses of towns to Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs). He stated that the military would respond as necessary based on the information available to protect national sovereignty. The junta leader emphasized the importance of safety and security for the people in these towns and villages. 1
At 4 am on 8 September, the military council bombed a sports ground and Silver Sky Hotel at No.12 ward in Lashio, which is controlled by Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). On 6 September, the military council also bombed Namkham town, held by Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), resulting in the deaths of 13 civilians, including children and pregnant women. 2
On the evening of 9 September, the military council carried out an airstrike on a detention center in Maungdaw Township, which is controlled by the Arakan Army (AA). The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 50 prisoners, including prisoners of war.
According to BNI-MPM records, between 1 and 16 September, the military council conducted 51 airstrikes across 29 townships. These airstrikes aim to regain control of towns lost to resistance forces. Additionally, the junta has intensified its airstrikes in townships where fighting between resistance forces and military council troops is escalating.
Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) also issued a statement on 10 September urging the public to remain vigilant regarding the junta’s airstrikes as there may be a series of airstrikes throughout Myanmar. The 3BHA also said that it will document the atrocities committed by the military council which is losing ground, and to send these records to international organizations. 3
The people of Myanmar are increasingly concerned about the daily threats posed by the junta’s airstrikes while also grappling with the widespread impacts of flooding across the country.
Flooding, Submergence and Flood Victims
At around 7 pm on 11 September, Samon dam’s regulation wall near Htanaungkan village in Thazi Township of Mandalay Region, collapsed. Villages and farms along the Samon River downstream were inundated. Thone Pat Lel village in Thar Ga Ra village-tract in Thazi Township, is located next to Samon creek. The entire village was flooded, leading to the destruction of the monastery, houses, buildings, school walls, roads, bridges, and livestock. “Uncle Tun Myaing’s tent was swept away by flood waters. On 13 September, his body was discovered on the bank of creek near the village. Help is needed for the rehabilitation of the village,” a resident of Thar Ga Ra village.
Thone Pat Lel village
Thousands of flood vicitms from Thone Pat Lel village have sought refuge at monasteries and in the compound of pagodas in western part of Thar Ga Ra village. 4
More than 20 villages in Thazi and Wundwin Townships were affected by flooding following the collapse of the Samone dam’s regulation wall. Flood victims are facing significant challenges in rescue and rehabilitation, and they must share the limited aid available among themselves.
According to the UNOCHA’s statement released on 16 September, more than 600,000 (631,000) people might have been affected by flooding across the country. The flood impacted 59 townships in nine regions and states.
The massive flooding has affected more than 300,000 people in 10 townships in Mandalay Region, around 74,000 in 14 townships in southern Shan State, more than 18,000 in two townships in eastern Shan State, nearly 90,000 in five townships in Karen State, more than 87,000 in six townships in Bago Region, more than 9,000 in four townships in Karenni (Kayah) State, and more than 900 in two townships in Mon State. Multiple sources indicate that hundreds of people have died, with many more missing, UNOCHA says. 5
On 17 September, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MoHADM) under the National Unity Government (NUG), along with Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) including the Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and Chin National Front (CNF), issued a joint statement urging international governments and the UN to provide emergency humanitarian aid promptly to the people of Myanmar affected by floods caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Review
The United States government announced on 17 September it will continue providing critical humanitarian assistance to affected and vulnerable communities throughout the country in the aftermath of severe flooding and destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Similarly, the Australian government stated that it is working with partner organizations to deliver humanitarian aid.
During a meeting on Natural Disaster Management held by the military council on 17 September, military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that the current situation was unprecedented in the past 50 years. He instructed his ministers to ensure that flood victims in relief camps could return to their homes as soon as possible, as a population census is set to begin on 1 October.
Therefore, international governments, including the U.S. and organizations such as the United Nations, should work to provide emergency humanitarian aid to victims of war and flooding in Myanmar. Simultaneously, they must seriously consider actions to end the junta’s hazardous airstrike threats that are affecting communities across the country.
It can be asserted that the people of Myanmar will achieve mental and physical safety only when the atrocities committed by the military junta, which threaten countless lives each day, are halted.
This review will conclude with the poem “Adhammaraja” by poet Maung Hla Myo (Chin Chaung Chan).
“For him,
Though I’m unsure of what truly matters,
For the people,
Human life holds greater importance.”
1 Military leader said that efforts will be made to regain the territories they had lost, RFA, 4 September 2024
2 Military again bombs Lashio, RFA, 8 September 2024
3 3 Brotherhood Alliance (AA+MNDAA+TNLA), Telegram, 10 September 2024
4 Interview with a resident of Thar Ga Ra village, Thazi Township in Mandalay Region, on 15 September
5 Flooding affected more than 600,000 people across the country, says UNOCHA, RFA, 8 September 2024