Typhoon Ragi: Unveils the True Nature of the Military Junta

The flash floods in Myanmar caused by Typhoon Ragi, which hit the South China Sea, had a great impact on the people in the country. There had been criticism that the flood was caused by a terrorist military junta breaking the dams under their control without informing the public and the lack of weather reporting.

The Yangon-based United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA Myanmar) announced on September 21 that the Flooding after the storm happened in 65 townships of Karenni (Kayah), Karen, Arakan, Southern Shan, Northern Shan, Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway and Nay Pyi Taw, affecting 887,000 people, including IDPs of the conflicts.

UN-OCHA (Myanmar) said that there were more than 300 fatalities and more than 100 injuries, therefore the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has approved the allocation of US$4 million for the rapid launch of emergency rescue operations.

The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) announced on September 20 that it will donate $50,000 to help with disaster relief efforts for people affected by flooding in Myanmar due to Typhoon Ragi.

In Mandalay alone, more than 230 people have died and up to 50 were injured in 15 flood-affected villages, according to media reports.

Disaster Strikes: Flooding in Karen State

Karen National Union stated on September 28 that there was flooding in seven districts and affecting 542 villages.

Among the 27 townships in Doo Tha Htoo, Taw Oo, Klee Lwee Htoo, Mergui-Tavoy, Mu Draw, Dooplaya, and Hpa-an District, 20 municipalities were affected by floods, and the worst were in Doo Tha Htoo (Thaton), Kler Lwee Htoo (Naunglebin), and Taw Oo (Taungoo). The KNU Central Executive Committee stated that the flood affected 380,779 people and 73,000 households, and there were four immediate urgent needs.

The Impact on Karenni State

Karenni State, where the military conflict is still raging, was also affected by the floods. And the flooding has caused landslides, especially in Pekon, Lokaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Shadow townships. Before this, on September 12, a flood emergency alert was also issued promptly.

The Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Department of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) stated on September 14 that three IDPs camps with more than 2,600 IDPs in Pekon, about 5000 civilians from three villages, and one IDPs in Loukas, 10,000 civilians from some villages including 7 IDPs in Demmoso, about 200 civilians in Hpruso, 1,335 civilians from Hsuhpelaw, Nawpalu, Ponchaung villages and one IDPs in Shadow (aka) Somo Phay Soe Lay.

The IEC also released three important assistance needs for flood victims and residents and for post-storm risks on September 18.

National Unity Government

According to data collected by the National Unity Government (NUG), there are more than 630,000 people affected by floods in the country due to the aftermath of Typhoon Ragi  and floods. The most affected people are in Rakhine State, with nearly two hundred thousand people affected, and the second most affected region is Mon State, with more than one hundred thousand people. As NUG, the ministries, and People's Defense Forces (PDF) under NUG  were working to help people affected by floods, and up to 3,160 million Kyats have been used as initial support.

The Reaction of the Military Junta

On September 27, the terrorist military junta announced that Typhoon Ragi had flooded 110 townships, killing 433 people and missing 79 people.

According to the statement, Nearly 800,000 acres of crops were destroyed by the flood, and more than 176,000 buffaloes and cattle died. The terrorist military junta has stated that damages were only due to the aftermath of the storm and denied that it was not because of the releasing of dam water and the lack of the timely publication of weather reports, and also announced that it would complete preparations for the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure by March 15, 2025.

A Military Junta Terrorizing Volunteers

In addition to the armed conflict, the floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Ragi have affected millions of people, and disrupted the flow of goods. Despite the efforts of civil organizations to provide emergency assistance to the flood-affected civilians, but the terrorist military obstructed and harassed them, and relief workers were arrested and extorted. In some areas controlled by ethnic resistance organizations, the terrorist military group also blocked emergency aid with artillery shelling.

The United State Embassy in Yangon issued a statement on September 17 that through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States continued to provide critical humanitarian assistance to affected and vulnerable communities throughout the country in the aftermath of severe flooding and destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi, and has urged the authorities to ensure the delivery of the aid to the communities most in need.

The Military Census: Prioritizing Census Over Citizens

The terrorist military junta has announced that it would conduct a nationwide census from October 1 to 15. It was announced for the election which they were trying to do. In addition to the military conflict across the country, when the civilians were affected by the floods and landslides, the terrorist military junta disrupted emergency rescues by all means. Moreover, the military junta also tried to repatriate people from their so-called rescue and relief camps to their damaged homes.

After the 2008 Cyclone Nargis, the people's referendum on the 2008 constitution they currently practice, which was being defended, was held and passed by force. In addition, there was evidence of the humanitarian aid sent by the international community to the flood-affected people being used first to supplement the army and the military regime's needs, and only the rest was given to the public.

On September 19, NUG Human Rights Minister U Aung Myo Min asked international diplomats not to cooperate with terrorist military junta because the military junta used to exploit and abuse international humanitarian aid whenever Myanmar faced natural disasters in the past.

NUG  Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Thann said on September 20, "The military junta that was losing the war would surely use this natural disaster for their interests." He also warned that SAC may be necessary to try to gain international legitimacy with Typhoon Ragi, as well as to discourage the people suffering from the flood and not wanting to participate in the revolution.