A friend of IPC’s recently sent this report;

Here in Myanmar, the situation is getting worse and worse each day. Just the other day, 9 houses of my relatives were burned to the ground in upper Myanmar. 

My brother and his family members including other families are hiding in the forest since two weeks ago for fear of the armed forces.

Unfortunately, they don't have a proper place to cook or water to drink and without proper shelter to sleep in the night.

When the armed forces occupied their village, houses are burnt and they are unable to return. They have nowhere to return as all roads are now blocked by soldiers. They have nowhere to run to.

There are the sounds of bomb blastings, fighting, killing, and cruel arrests taking place in different villages, towns, and cities across Myanmar.

Brutal repression and massive atrocities committed by the military, known as the Tatmadaw, have underscored its reputation as the nation’s most loathed institution at a time when it has seized absolute power and appointed a new, non-elected government.

Meanwhile, a Baptist pastor was shot dead in Chin state in Myanmar/Burma on 18 September amid continued attacks by the Myanmar military on civilians in the state.  Pastor Cung Biak Hum, 31, was shot by soldiers as he tried to help extinguish a blaze caused by artillery fire, which destroyed 19 homes in the Thantlang township. The Chin Human Rights Organization reported that soldiers proceeded to remove the pastor’s finger and steal his wedding ring.

In response to the killing, Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar tweeted: “The murder of a Baptist minister and bombing of homes in Thantlang, Chin State are the latest examples of the living hell being delivered daily by junta forces against the people of Myanmar. The world needs to pay closer attention. More importantly, the world needs to act.”

At the same time, the country is being ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and a faltering economy the World Bank this month predicted will contract by at least 18% in 2021. The percentage of the population living in poverty is expected to rise to 48.2% by 2022, nearly double the 24.8% recorded in 2017.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday warned of a "human rights catastrophe" in Myanmar, and called on international leaders to do more to prevent the conflict from becoming worse.  Her warning came in a new report issued by the UN Human Rights Office, detailing widespread violations made by the military, the Tatmadaw, against the people in Myanmar.

The report said Myanmar was facing a "human rights catastrophe that shows no sign of abating.  The national consequences are terrible and tragic —the regional consequences could also be profound," Bachelet said in a statement. "The international community must redouble its efforts to restore democracy and prevent wider conflict before it is too late."

Sources / More: DW.com, CSW, Asia Times

Pray:

The Association of South East Asia Nations [ASEAN] consists of 10 nations in which Myanmar is a member. Although it has a 'non-inference policy' of each nation, yet as an association there is direct dialogue with Myanmar military leaders. Pray that they would be able to listen and address the issues with the military leaders, accept NUG leaders, and not treating them as 'terrorists'.  A willingness to compromise to peace for the sake of the innocent people.

The normalcy of the common Myanmar people - peace, hope, and possible future will return as soon as possible.

Civil war would subside, curfew is lifted, imprisoned be released and people can rebuild their homes again. There will be peace and order.

Many Christian mission leaders, pastors had become casualties of Covid-19 with the urgent need to appoint new, committed and passionate young leaders

The covid situation will be controlled and improved with countries donating the vaccines and slowing down the rate of inflections especially among the vulnerable of older ones, the teenagers and young ones. More people can trust the vaccines and be vaccinated.

From a different source…

Pray:

That the National Unity Government and “people’s defense forces” will prevail in their resistance to the brutal military regime that overturned the will of the people and kicked out the civilian government in February.

For strong international pressure and the cutting off support to the regime from China and Russia that are significant weapons suppliers to Myanmar’s armed forces.

May His peace and restoration come to this long-suffering country!