Military junta committing daily acts of terror, worsening humanitarian crisis more than fighting

Photo – Some of the displaced people in Myaing Township. More than fighting, the military junta is committing acts of terror on a daily basis, causing humanitarian difficulties to worsen, said Ma May Hnin of the Emergency Management Committee – Mandalay (EMC – MDY) on July 22. (Anya Myar Civil Society Organization – Myaing) 001 (July 23) MAWLAMYINE, Mon State – More than fighting, the military junta is committing acts of terror on a daily basis, causing humanitarian difficulties to worsen, said Ma May Hnin of the Emergency Management Committee – Mandalay (EMC – MDY) yesterday (July 22). She said this during an online press conference jointly organized by eight civil society organizations with the "Forward Voice" group, titled "Aid Blockaded and Unyielding People – Resisting the Military Junta's Use of Aid as a Weapon." "Rather than saying that there are clashes and wars, the terrorist army is instilling fear in the public and committing more severe acts of terror on a daily basis. Because of this, our humanitarian difficulties are worsening, the number of IDPs is increasing, and the channels of support are being cut off," said Ma May Hnin. From 2024 to the present, within just one district of Mandalay Region, Pyin Oo Lwin, there have been over 1,000 airstrikes and more than 70 incidents of mass killings during the coup period. It was noted that these attacks were not related to fighting and targeted places such as schools, hospitals, and markets where the public travels and trades. "When we look back at all the situations where the army marches and burns villages, the army is giving collective punishment to the public. If displaced people are in village A, they are being bombed from the air, asking if village A can accommodate displaced people," said Ma May Hnin. "So, those groups of displaced people join with the people of that village and move to another village. You can imagine them being strafed by planes from above along the routes where the displaced people are going," she said. Adelina Kamal, an independent analyst, also stated that the military junta is intentionally committing acts of terror and creating humanitarian problems, while at the same time blocking humanitarian aid. She pointed out that this is a blatant violation of the "Do No Harm Principle." She also pointed out that the military junta is intentionally using aid as a weapon, as seen through checkpoints, administrative blockades, and the arrest of humanitarian aid workers. "If humanitarian aid is to be provided only after obtaining permission from them, it would be like giving legitimacy to the military junta. Therefore, it is seen that the military junta has politically created this humanitarian crisis," said Adelina Kamal. According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA Myanmar), there are nearly 3.8 million displaced people across Myanmar, most of whom have been displaced multiple times. The military junta is implementing administrative restrictions to prevent aid from reaching these displaced people, blocking them at checkpoints, confiscating aid supplies, and not only confiscating them but also blocking the activities of civil society organizations, including volunteers, that provide aid. Therefore, displaced people in the Anya region are also facing humanitarian difficulties that they have to solve on their own. It is reported that international humanitarian aid that goes through the military junta reaches the truly needy very little. Ma May Hnin of EMC – MDY urged that international organizations should connect and work with civil society organizations that are actually active on the ground. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo The post Military junta committing daily acts of terror, worsening humanitarian crisis more than fighting appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.