Myanmar military accused of blocking aid to displaced civilians

The Myanmar army may have committed war crimes by arresting relief workers and destroying food supplies, according to Fortify Rights.

Myanmar's military may have committed war crimes in the eastern Karenni state, according to a leading human rights organisation, by arresting humanitarian workers and destroying food supplies meant for battle displaced people.

According to a new study released on Wednesday by Fortify Rights, the Myanmar military has detained at least 14 charity workers in Karenni state, commonly known as Kayah, since February 1, when it seized power in a coup.

Fortify Rights stated the military has also carried out arson assaults, looted civilian property, and destroyed food, medication, and other aid supplies, based on more than 20 interviews with displaced individuals, humanitarian workers, and members of armed groups.

"Blocking aid and attacking humanitarian workers in the context of armed conflict are war crimes," said Ismail Wolff, Fortify Rights' Regional Director.

"The Myanmar junta is a security and peace threat to the region."
Emergency cross-border help for the refugees should be prioritised by the UN and ASEAN member nations, as well as punishment for the junta's horrific crimes."

The claimed assistance blockade comes amid heavy combat in Karenni state between the military and armed groups, including militias formed by civilians after the coup, known as the People's Defence Forces.

In the continuous conflict in the eastern state, more than 100,000 people have been displaced.
According to Fortify Rights, rather of allowing lifesaving relief to the conflict-displaced, the military has taken "real actions" to restrict civilians access to it.

In May, the military detained three relief workers — two women and one male – near Pan Kan Village in the Loikaw Township, according to the report.
Five months later, they are still being held in jail.

"We're all terrified to work in these conditions, but we do what we can," a local aid worker familiar with the arrests told Fortify Rights.

Soldiers also demolished and burned rice stockpiles at a school in Loi Yin Taung Chae village, on the border between Karenni and Shan states, in a separate incident in June.

According to Fortify Rights, humanitarian workers were feeding 3,000 displaced individuals from the rice stockpile.

The military has also been delaying travel authorization for international relief workers, according to the rights group, as well as erecting bottlenecks, stopping vehicles at checkpoints, and seizing assistance goods.