COMMUNITY BASED CONFLICT MONITORING

PROJECT
Monthly report: 1st September 2023 to 30th September 2023
Reporting Date: 29.9.2023
Targeted Area: 5 Townships in Magway Region
(Yesagyo, Tilin, Saw,Myaing,Gangaw)

CONTEXT UPDATES

Context Update of Magway Region (Yesagyo, Tilin, Saw,Myaing,Gangaw)

During this reporting period, IDPs from targeted townships increased due to Military
movement and tension rate between different armed groups are still high in targeted
townships. Armed clashes are frequently happening in targeted areas. In Myaing and
Gangaw townships, there were over thousands of IDPs from affected villages. Most of the
villagers were displaced to nearest forest and they came back to original villages when
the conflict situations are stable. Some villagers became mine victims when they came
back to their houses and high risk of Mine action in targeted townships. Due to crossfire
between armed groups near villages at Gangaw, villagers are affected, and most are
injured, most passed away. Infrastructure and houses were destroyed by explosive
devices. Moreover, unexploded ordinances sink in houses in Gangaw. Airstrikes
frequently happened in targeted districts. Unfortunately, extrajudicial killing is faced by
civilian. There was also arson in villages at Myaing township during this reporting period.
There is no health care access and medical treatment for the community.

September is the rainy season and due to heavy rain in Magway region and Sagaing
region, IDPs faced challenges for shelter in forest. Moreover, due to heavy rain in Tilin
and Saw township, there was flooding, loss of agriculture farms and breaking bridges.

Unfortunately, extrajudicial killing, arrest and detention are faced by civilian because of
military doubt the civilian as PDF. Armed groups loot the villagers’ possessions like
motorcycle phone, electrical materials and killed the animals for their food.

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 There are Martial laws in all targeted townships. No regular public vehicle transportation
and carrying mass amounts of food items are prohibited by Military groups. During this
September, there were travel restrictions in Saw township and ground transportation was
blocked by SAC from 12th September to 21st September. As the consequences of
restriction, commodity prices are extremely high, and communities are challenging for
basic need. For the telecommunication, internet connection and phone network are
controlled by Military and there is no internet access in villages. If they need to use the
internet, villagers go downtown.

Strict check points are increasing and check the NRC, COVID-19 vaccine certificate, travel
approval letter and mobile phone.

Humanitarian assistance is also restricted, and local humanitarian actors are

implementing with low profile. There are no significant IDPs camp sites in Magway region.
Humanitarian actors can’t directly support the affected community and IDPs are also low
profile at monasteries. If a community needs support for life saving, community helps to
community and actors give humanitarian assistance through local CSOs network.

Challenges from Team Leaders, Monitors

The lack of Internet access and phone connection line are a frequent problem for team
leaders and monitors. They went downtown for 30 mins to get an internet connection.
Consequently, information validation cannot be done in time and phone lines were cut off
in nearby townships where there were military activities and armed clashes. During this
reporting period, field monitors from Gangaw and Myaing displaced to forest. Therefore,
delayed in sharing information due to no internet access. In Yesagyo, there are some
media which buy news unofficially. Therefore, field monitors have difficulties in taking
photos.

KEY POLITICAL EVENTS AND/OR PEACE AND CONFLICT RELATED EVENTS

Describe key political events and/or peace and conflict related events that might impact
the implementation of project activities or that might influence the context in general.

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 Contextual impacts on the project

Lack of internet and phone line access can hinder receiving timely reports, information
sharing related to projects, and data verification.

Due to checking mobile phones in targeted townships, field monitors uninstall the
software and deleted the message during travelling. After returning home, they install
software and when they install, some errors and delays are faced.

The proliferation of “Pyu Saw Htee” villages in the Magway region can be a potential
threat to the local community because project activities will be under surveillance or
closely monitored by pro-SAC groups.

SECURITY UPDATES AND/OR DISASTER INCIDENTS

Describe security information and/or disaster incidents if they were any in your
townships.

During this reporting period, arms clashes are frequently happening at targeted
townships. Moreover, arm groups movement around villages and settlement at villages
are the security risks for villagers. For the Gangaw district, airstrike between arm groups
happened. Civilians have no freedom of movement. Strict check points and civilians have
no chance to transport medicine and too many food items like rice and oil. Martial law is
at every township. SAC restricted riding motorcycles with 2 people at Yesagyo township.
Travel approval letter, covid 19 vaccination certificate, NRC cards are needed when
travelling. If not, check points collect fines unlawfully. Internet connection and phone
network are always blacked out.

For the natural disaster, heavy rain at Magway division for the whole September month.
It causes flooding at agricultural farms and bridges are broken at Tilin township.

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ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED DURING THE SEPTEMBER

List accomplished activities in the past month:

No Description Who participated When How Remark

1 Weekly program Program Team 4.9.2023, Online

team meeting
11.9.2023

18.9.2023

26.9.2023 In
person

2 IRMS Meeting Program Team and 6.9.2023 Online

IT

3 Monthly Catch- IA staffs 18.9.2023 Online

up meeting with
all staffs

4 Reflection Program team 29.9.2023 Online

meeting with
TL and FM from
team leaders and
Magway and
field monitors
Sagaing region

ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE UPCOMING MONTH

List upcoming planned activities and required assistance from Program Manager,
Finance Team or Country Presentative, for which you have to implement planned
activities.

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  To produce bi-weekly newsletter
 To monitor media for update local news
 To participate regular coordination meeting and Ad hoc meetings
 Lifesaving emergency support if an emergency happens.

ACHIEVEMENT DURING SEPTEMBER

 Documented the update news shared by field monitors during the ongoing process of
creating conflict monitoring software.
 2 program assistants joined the program operation at Yangon office for a week.
 1st and 2nd biweekly newsletter for September were published and shared.
 Weekly program team meeting implemented every week.
 Reflection meeting with team leaders and field monitors was done.
 Finalized and developed the IRMS software, Dashboard, and website.

CHALLENGES FOR STAFF

 Difficult in contacting field monitors due to poor phone and internet network connection at
targeted townships.

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OTHER COMMENTS/ISSUES/OBSERVATIONS

Any other comments, observations, issues to raise or you would like to inform the
Program Team?

Prepared by: Zin Mi Mi Phyo