Inflation surges amidst shortage of edible oil
Shortages of palm oil have been reported nationwide, including in Yangon. Imports of palm oil have been reduced from 50,000 tons per month to 30,000 due to the regime’s shortage of foreign currency reserves, sources working at edible oil companies told DVB.
“I heard it was reduced again recently. We don’t have foreign currency. We have to cut down [on imports],” said a businessperson working for an edible oil company on the condition of anonymity. The increasing demand for edible oil has led to long queues outside of shops.
“I had to wait since early morning. It was very crowded, and there were even arguments,” said a Yangon resident. The wholesale price of palm oil has more than doubled since the 2021 coup. The price of palm oil is now 5,485 kyat per viss (1.63 kg) but was only 2,370 per viss in January 2021, before the coup.
Eighty-four civilians killed last month, AAPP states
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has documented that 84 civilians in Burma, including five children, were killed in July. Twenty-four women and 60 men were among the dead. Mandalay and Sagaing regions had the highest number of killed at 15 each.
The AAPP went on to state that the main causes of death were from artillery attacks carried out by the military, which killed 40 people. Airstrikes reportedly killed 16 civilians. At least 5,467 people – including pro-democracy activists and civilians – have been killed by the military since the 2021 coup, according to AAPP statistics.

Regime attends swearing-in ceremony for Iran president
A delegation led by the regime’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Than Swe attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Wednesday. Than Swe was invited to attend on behalf of the regime in Naypyidaw by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament.
“While in Iran, the deputy prime minister and union minister for foreign affairs apprised the heads of delegation of the Myanmar government’s efforts to ensure peace, development and democracy in the country and the latest developments taking place in Myanmar,” regime media reported.
Than Swe’s delegation attended a banquet hosted by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on July 31. On a previous visit to Tehran, he attended the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting and met with Ali Bagheri Kani, the acting Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on June 24. Both the regimes in Naypyidaw and Tehran are heavily sanctioned by the international community.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Nearly 200 schools in four townships have been closed due to flooding since July 29. “The water level of the [Irrawaddy] River rose immediately and quickly, and all schools were flooded,” said a source close to the regional education office. The regime’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology predicted on Wednesday that heavy rainfall will continue.
MANDALAY—The Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MPDF) claimed on Wednesday that it has seized control of seven military outposts in Madaya Township since July 16. Regime troops were taken as prisoners of war. Weapons and ammunition were also seized from the outposts after it took control from those stationed inside.
“We are continuing to attack more military outposts in the township,” said an MPDF spokesperson. Fighting between the MPDF and the military continues in Madaya. The MPDF claims it has seized a total of 35 military outposts in the township since Operation Shan-Man, a twin offensive launched in Shan State and Mandalay Region, began on June 25.
NAYPYIDAW—The U.S. issued a statement condemning the regime’s extension of the state of emergency on Wednesday. It claimed that the regime is stifling the aspirations of Burma’s citizens and wants it to engage in dialogue with resistance groups to return the country on its path to democracy. “The military’s actions have only prolonged the crisis,” said Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.
SHAN—The United Wa State Army (UWSA) issued a statement calling for “peace talks” to address fighting between resistance forces and the military nationwide on Monday. It came after the UWSA deployed troops to Lashio in order to protect its assets and liaison office on July 27.
“We urge serious consideration of peaceful methods, including discussions,” the UWSA stated. Beijing brokered a peace agreement between the Brotherhood Alliance and the military in northern Shan State on Jan. 11 which broke down on July 3. BBC Burmese reported that a new round of China-sponsored talks is scheduled to take place on Aug. 8, but the regime has declined the invitation.
Two civilians were killed by retaliatory airstrikes and artillery attacks on residential areas near the Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Lashio on Wednesday. Many buildings, including a church, were destroyed.
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) claimed that it had seized control of the RMC on July 25, but fighting around Lashio continues. “We heard there were MNDAA troops inside the RMC and that’s why they [carried out] airstrikes,” said a Lashio resident.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 5,450 kyat)

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