- Flood Situation in Mon State
In August 2026, continuous heavy rainfall in seven townships of Mon State, including Kyaikmaraw, Mawlamyine, Bilin, Ye, Mudon, Paung, and Thanbyuzayat, caused the major rivers, such as the Thanlwin and Attran[1], to exceed their danger levels, resulting in severe flooding.
Due to this natural disaster, major transportation routes have been cut off,[2] schools have been closed,[3] and displaced persons and local residents have been forced to relocate. In addition, there are numerous health-related difficulties such as scarcity of clean drinking water, shortages of basic foodstuffs, and the risk of waterborne diseases.[4] Although social aid and rescue organizations are assisting with relocations and food distribution, the widespread flooding and difficult transportation make assistance slow to reach some remote villages.
Specifically, as long as the water levels remain high, daily livelihoods are severely impacted. Currently, passengers are traveling by boat in stages, leading to exorbitantly high travel costs and the potential for continuous problems with rising commodity prices. According to the forecast from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, further rainfall is possible, and water levels may continue to rise.[5] Therefore, it is assessed that the public needs to exercise extreme caution and that rescue efforts need to be expanded more broadly.
- What should a government and authorities do?
It is imperative that relevant organizations, which are considered public authorities, promptly activate emergency search and rescue mechanisms and provide basic necessities for those suffering and affected by the dangers of floods. During natural disasters, it is essential to systematically open safe relief camps for the public and to effectively provide sufficient living arrangements, clean drinking water, nutritious food, and clothing in these camps by withdrawing and utilizing government emergency disaster funds without delay. Furthermore, in carrying out rescue and rehabilitation efforts, prioritizing access to vulnerable civilians who genuinely need assistance must be adopted as a strategic approach.
Responding to the health threats that commonly follow a disaster is also a crucial role of the government. To prevent waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and dengue fever, which are common after floods, from spreading as an epidemic, mobile medical teams should be urgently dispatched to provide preventive treatment. In addition, it is essential to swiftly distribute water purification tablets through public health departments and scientifically and rapidly purify flood-affected water reservoirs and wells. Simultaneously, to ensure uninterrupted flow of goods and smooth relief operations, damaged roads, bridges, and electricity networks must be immediately repaired, and efforts should be made to reconnect disrupted communication systems and accurately and promptly issue weather change warnings to the public.
What should a government do? When the floodwaters recede and the recovery period begins, the damaged homes and surrounding areas must be immediately cleaned and repaired with the help of government mechanisms. For those who have become homeless, if necessary, standard temporary shelters should be opened, and special attention should be paid to the physical and psychological safety of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women, in addition to displaced persons. As part of economic and livelihood rehabilitation programs, the government must implement a national-level plan to provide free high-quality seeds and fertilizers to local farmers for their damaged paddy fields and farmlands, along with agricultural subsidies. Similarly, to reactivate the local economy, the government must promptly provide emergency rehabilitation loans with low-interest rates to help small and medium-sized businesses in the region, which have been halted due to the disaster, resume their operations.
In addition to short-term solutions, it has become an unavoidable duty of the government to formulate long-term preventive strategies to prevent such severe floods and natural disasters from recurring in the future and to mitigate losses. In particular, the systematic re-excavation of streams and rivers in the region to improve water flow and the upgrading and construction of drainage systems in urban and rural areas with modern methods must be carried out with emphasis using the state budget. Most importantly, to cope with the impacts of climate change, it is urged and recommended that a natural disaster early warning system be robustly established as a mechanism that is faster, more accurate, and can reach local communities in a timely manner, in accordance with international standards.
- Educational Situation
The varying educational challenges faced in the Mon region during August 2026, due to war, floods, and security issues, are presented below.
(2.1) Impact of Flooding on Education
Due to flood disasters in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, more than 20 schools have been temporarily closed.[6] This has resulted in a loss of learning time for students and may delay the completion of their curricula. Furthermore, when schools reopen, it will be necessary to pay special attention to and prevent subsequent public health problems such as diarrheal diseases transmitted through contaminated water and food, and malaria and dengue fever spread by mosquitoes.
(2.2) Educational Situation Under the Coup Junta
The situation clearly demonstrates that no one receiving an education under the dictatorship is safe. In August 2026, four high school students from Thein Zar Yat High School were arrested by the military at their homes, accused of having ties to the PDF, simply for filming a TikTok video while on a school holiday trip.[7] Among those arrested was the son of a Warrant Officer within their own military unit. Despite their families attempting to negotiate for their release, the students have not been freed to this day. This incident reveals that officials in schools under the military junta are unable to provide accurate knowledge to children, cannot ensure the safety and protection of students, and that everyone lives under the constant fear of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment for even the smallest matters.
(2.3) Educational Situation in Revolutionary Controlled Areas
The basic education sector in revolutionary-controlled areas continues to face challenges due to the inhumane military strategies of the junta. On August 19, in Zeebyaung Village, Thein Zar Yat sub-township, Kyaikhto Township, children playing a rainy season football match in the football field were indiscriminately shelled with heavy weapons by the military council troops based in Thein Zar Yat. This act of violence resulted in the immediate death of a 5-year-old KG student on the spot, and at least 11 other students sustained severe injuries.[8]
These actions are nothing but human rights violations that do not differentiate between military and civilian targets, and they are openly committed across the country by the junta, lacking accountability and responsibility.
Overall, it can be concluded that these are deliberate and malicious attacks targeting innocent civilians in revolutionary areas where the junta can no longer establish a foothold, using airpower and heavy weapons, in blatant disregard of international human rights standards, especially when facing military defeats on the ground and continuously losing territory.
- Health Situation
The health issue that requires special attention in Mon State during August, the rainy season, is the outbreak of severe diarrhea (cholera) transmitted from Yangon.[9] Recently, the cholera pathogen was detected in some locals from Kyaikkhami and Ye townships[10] who had returned from Yangon. The relevant health authorities are closely monitoring disease control measures, such as quarantining patients and their contacts, and spraying disinfectants in the surrounding areas.[11] Due to these infections, neighboring Thailand has also reached a state where it must strictly monitor its border checkpoints. This disease spreads rapidly through contaminated food and drinking water, and if not treated in time, dehydration can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the public is strongly urged and advised to strictly adhere to personal hygiene practices such as properly boiling and drinking water, choosing only hot, well-cooked, and fly-proof food, and thoroughly washing hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet. If suspicious symptoms such as frequent diarrhea or vomiting appear, immediately seek medical attention at the nearest hospital or clinic.
[1] Dawei Watch, August 26, 2026, The Attaran River has risen, causing floods in Kyeikmaraw Township, Link
[2] Than Lwin Times, August 20, 2026, Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat Road flooded, motorcycles and small cars impassable, Link
[3] Independent Mon News Agency, August 27, 2026, Schools Temporarily Closed Due to Flooding in Kyaikmaraw, Link
[4] Independent Mon News Agency, August 26, 2026, Kyaikmaraw low-lying areas flooded due to rising Attaran River water levels, Link
[5] DVB Burmese, On August 28, 2026, homes in Bilin were flooded, and local residents were displaced.Link
[6] Independent Mon News Agency, August 27, 2026, Schools in Kyainseikgyi temporarily closed due to flooding , Link
[7] Than Lwin Times, On August 27, 2026, the military arrested four students in Kyaikhto. Link
[8] Dawei Watch, August 19, 2026, In Kyaikhto, an artillery shell exploded during a football match, killing a KG student and injuring at least 11 others, Link
[9] Dawei Watch, August 20, In 2026, due to a severe diarrhea outbreak in Yangon, Thailand is closely monitoring border crossings, Link
[10] Than Lwin Times, On August 15, 2026, severe dysentery pathogens were discovered in returnees from Mon to Yangon, Link
[11] Independent Mon News Agency, August 14, 2026, Woman diagnosed with severe diarrhea in Kyaikmaraw, Link
