Floods in Kachin State capital displace 1,000 residents
Aid workers in the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina told DVB that nearly 1,000 residents in the township have fled their homes over the last five days due to flooding since May 30. Regime authorities in the city have reportedly made accommodation for residents available at monasteries, where temporary shelter will be provided.
“We’re evacuating residents from low-lying areas,” an aid worker told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The regime Department of Meteorology and Hydrology announced that the Irrawaddy River had receded to 1,054 cm on June 3, after rising five centimeters above the town’s critical threshold of 1,200 cm on the previous day, June 2.
Another aid worker told DVB that no casualties were reported as many residents had evacuated before flooding began. Schools were unable to reopen in Myitkyina on Monday for the new school year, according to residents. Tens of thousands living in Myitkyina needed humanitarian aid after 75 percent of the town was flooded last June.
Brotherhood Alliance extends post-quake ceasefire to June 30
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA)—collectively known as the Brotherhood Alliance—extended its temporary ceasefire on Monday until June 30. It was the first to announce a ceasefire two days after the March 28 earthquake and has repeatedly extended it since March 30.
“Despite two months of efforts, the clearance and rescue operations remain incomplete, and heavy rainfall has caused further collapses and damage to structures,” the Brotherhood Alliance shared in a press release on June 2. It added that the ceasefire includes the right to self-defence during regime attacks.
The TNLA and the AA have both reported air and artillery attacks in territory under their control during the regime ceasefire, which began on April 2. Towns under MNDAA control have been relatively peaceful since it signed a China-brokered ceasefire in January. The regime extended its temporary ceasefire on Sunday to June 30.
Regime forces near resistance held-town in northern Shan State
One of the two regime columns that launched a counteroffensive in late April to retake Nawnghkio Township in northern Shan State passed through Shwemothtaw village on Monday, frontline sources told DVB. The village is located 12 miles (19 km) south of Nawnghkio, which is 96 miles (154 km) south of the region’s capital Lashio and 147 miles (236 km) north of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.
A source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that there was no fighting reported on June 2 but that gunfire could be heard. Zin Yaw, a Burma Army defector, told DVB that once regime troops pass Shwemothtaw village, they will face TNLA and Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) forces at Kangyi village, approximately nine miles (14 km) south of Nawnghkio, which was seized by the TNLA on July 10,
The other regime column took an alternative route from Lawnglin village, located 19 miles (30 km) southeast of Nawnghkio. Zin Yaw told DVB that the two regime columns may converge and enter Nawnghkio at the Goke Hteik train station, eight miles (12 km) east of Nawnghkio. The second round of China-brokered peace talks between the TNLA and the regime held April 28-29 failed.
News by Region
ARAKAN—Residents of Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Taungup townships told DVB that flooding began on Sunday. No casualties have been reported. Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Taungup are located 88-284 miles (96-457 km) north and south of the state capital Sittwe, which is under regime control.
“At least 10 villages [in Kyauktaw] have been submerged,” a Kyauktaw resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The Kaladan River breached its banks after five consecutive days of rain. The Sittwe-Yangon road has been closed due to flooding since June 1, according to residents.
SAGAING—Kanbalu Township residents from 11 villages fled their homes due to fighting between resistance and pro-regime forces on Monday. Kanbalu is partly administered by the National Unity Government (NUG) and is located 105 miles (168 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa.
A Kanbalu resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that hundreds fled their homes and an unknown number of them were detained by two pro-regime militias, which launched an attack against the PDF in Kanbalu on June 2.
SHAN—The People’s Defence Force (PDF) claimed that the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) burned down at least four homes in Payataung and Yepu villages of Nyaungshwe Township on Monday. Nyaungshwe is located 18 miles (28 km) south of the state capital Taunggyi.
“We have been protecting these villages for over one year. The military spread false news that we set fire to these villages but we did not,” a PDF member in Nyaungshwe told DVB. He added that the PNO carried out arson after the PDF withdrew from the two villages.
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