July 10, 2022
For three consecutive days, the military junta has set fire to civilian-owned oil wells near Kyauk Hkwak Village in western Myaing Township, Magway Region. As of 5 p.m. on July 10, oil wells were still being burned, according to a local representative from We Love Myaing.
After arriving in Kyauk Hkwak Village via Wakpoke and Taungyoe villages on July 7, the junta troops have continuously destroyed the oil wells surrounding the village. “They’ve been burning these civilian-owned oil wells for three days now, and today marks the third day. On the morning of July 8, they also burned down seven civilian homes west of the village. Kyauk Hkwak is located on the border of Myaing and Pauk townships, and the area is surrounded by oil wells. The military has set up posts in the villages and destroyed the oil wells, some of which are over 1,000 feet deep, costing at least hundreds of thousands of kyats to drill. The total losses could reach millions,” said a Myaing local.
Though the exact number of destroyed oil wells is still unknown, the ongoing fires are expected to increase the total losses. “The wells vary in depth, from 100 to 400 feet. The deeper the well, the more oil it produces and the higher the drilling costs. The losses will certainly increase,” the local explained.
Villagers have also been forced to flee into the forests and mountains to escape as the military occupies the village. With the onset of the rainy season, they are facing increasing difficulties in meeting their basic needs.
