24/08/2026
To:
Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission
European Commission
Mr. Maciej Popowski
Director-General, Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO)
European Commission
CC:
Council of the European Union
European Parliament
24 August 2026
Dear President von der Leyen and Mr. Popowski,
We are members of the Sagaing Region Strike Force, a sub-national coalition of strike committees, strike forces, and student unions that have steadfastly opposed the military dictatorship through non-violent civil disobedience movements since the onset of the 2021 Myanmar Spring Revolution. The Spring Revolution was triggered by the illegal military coup led by military chief Min Aung Hlaing. From 1 February 2021 to this day, we stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in our shared struggle to end military tyranny.
Beyond our campaign against the illegal military junta, the Sagaing Region Strike Force has been actively engaging in civic education and the promotion of international human rights principles among the population. We have also undertaken efforts to protect and assist communities affected by the junta's aerial bombardments and natural disasters.
We understand that the European Union (EU) is aware that, on 5 August 2026, soldiers operating under the command of the military junta deliberately released large volumes of water from the Thaphanseik and Kabo dams in Sagaing Region without prior public notification. This act resulted in catastrophic flooding that affected more than 1.2 million people across the townships of Kantbalu, Kawlin, Taze, Khin-U, Ye-U, Depayin, Shwebo, Wetlet, Sagaing, Monywa, and Myaung.
Given that both dams remain under the full control of the military junta, it is patently clear that the ensuing flood was not a consequence of natural phenomena, but rather a direct outcome of the junta's action. Moreover, in Khin-U Township, the junta carried out airstrikes targeting civilians engaged in rescue operations for flood-affected communities.
In response to the military junta’s weaponization of the natural disaster, the Sagaing Region Strike Force has established an Emergency Response Team to coordinate emergency relief efforts. We have been distributing emergency food supplies and medicines to affected communities. However, our relief operations have been severely hampered by the military junta, which has arrested civilians donating flood relief efforts, detained drivers, and seized vehicles, and confiscated essential supplies and medicine at the Sagaing Bridge checkpoint—a vital crossing over the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Sagaing.
Far from facilitating effective emergency assistance for the flood-affected population, the military junta has instead threatened to arrest those providing aid, impounded relief materials, and deliberately targeted flood-affected areas with helicopter gunships and su***de drones. We condemn these actions as egregious, inhumane, and barbaric. We further maintain that all those complicit in such atrocities bear responsibility as accessories to these grave violations.
We were profoundly encouraged to learn, through the European Commission's news article of 13 August 2026, of your decision to provide an additional €10.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. We deeply appreciate this commitment at a time when the people of Myanmar are enduring an escalating humanitarian crisis.
Nevertheless, we respectfully urge and request that this assistance not be channeled through the military junta. Instead, we urge the EU to coordinate and collaborate directly with local civil society organizations (CSOs), the Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government (SFUIG), and the National Unity Government (NUG) – as the legitimate representatives of the people – to ensure that assistance reaches those in genuine need in a timely, effective, and unimpeded manner through border-based channels. We also respectfully request your guidance in identifying and connecting with other potential organizations that can support the delivery of this assistance to affected communities.
We express our gratitude on behalf of the affected communities in both Sagaing Region and Ayeyarwady Region, including the people of Lemyethna, who are likewise enduring severe flooding. We sincerely hope that the necessary humanitarian support will also reach the people of Lemyethna and other affected communities in Ayeyarwady Region.
Finally, we wish the leadership of the EU continued good health and success in their efforts to promote peace, human rights, development, and prosperity around the world.
Sincerely yours,
Sagaing Region Strike Force
Member list of Sagaing Region Strike Force
Shwebo Township
(1) Shwebo Township Strike Force
Wetlet Township
(2) Wetlet Township People's Strike Steering Committee
Ye-U Township
(3) Peace Classroom
Taze Township
(4) Taze People's Strike Steering Committee
Tabayin Township
(5) Tabayin Township New Blood Strike Steering Committee
Budalin Township
(6) Budalin Township Strike Force
(7) Budalin Township Daung Yarzar Main Strike Column
Monywa Township
(8) Monywa Township People's Strike Steering Committee
(9) Monywa–Amyint Road Strike Steering Committee
(10) Monywa University of Economics Students' Union
(11) Technological University (Monywa) Students' Union
(12) LGBT Alliance Myanmar
Ayadaw Township
(13) Ayadaw Township People's Strike Leading Committee
Chaung-U Township
(14) Chaung-U Township Youth Force Strike Committee
Sagaing Township
(15) Sagaing Township People's Strike Force
Myinmu Township
(16) Myinmu Township Strike Force
Myaung Township
(17) Myaung Township People's Strike Steering Committee
Yinmarbin Township
(18) Yinmarbin–Salingyi Multi-Village Strike
(19) Yinmarbin Township Strike Force
(20) Unending Blood Shwe Nway Blood Strike Steering Committee
(21) Youth Spirit Strike Force
(22) Flying the Banner Shwe Yei Kyi Strike Steering Committee
(23) Flying the Banner Peacock Red Blood Strike Leading Committee
(24) "No Savior Needed, Our Village" Strike Committee
(25) Northern Yinmarbin Villages Strike
(26) "No Turning Back" Kyay Dee Revolution Strike Column
(27) Shwe Ukkan People's Strike Force
(28) People's Strength Strike Column
(29) Northern Yinmarbin Strike Force
(30) "Continuing the Journey Together, Uprooting Fascism" Strike
(31) Breaking the Old Era, Our Generation Strike Committee
(32) Shwe Bant Jee Strike Column
Salingyi Township
(33) New Spirit Strike Force
(34) 5/ Letpadaung Taung Strike Force
(35) Anyar Pyit Taing Htaung Lay Daut Strike Force
(36) Rebellious Peacocks' Strength Strike
(37) Chindwin Riverbank Villages Strike Column
(38) Voice of the Rural Revolutionary People
(39) 5/ Salingyi People's Strike Network
(40) Letpadaung Taung Region Main Strike
(41) Letpadaung Taung Region Anti-Dictatorship Strike Force
P***e Township
(42) P***e People's Strike Steering Committee
Kani Township
(43) Kani Township Strike Force
