Arakan Army calls on international community to help flood victims

By Admin 14 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
14 August 2023, Sittwe

Local people in Arakan State still need emergency relief supplies including food, drinking water and medicine after they were hit by floods, the Arakan Army (AA) said in a statement on Monday.

The AA has urged global powers, neighbouring countries, members of ASEAN and international agencies to provide food supplies and healthcare services to victims affected by Cyclone Mocha and subsequent flooding in Arakan State, and to help them to re-establish their livelihoods.

“Flooding may have such negative consequences as diarrhoea, lung infections, colds and flu,” the AA said.

According to the AA, a total of 18,072 houses were flooded in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Taungup and Thandwe townships due to persistent rains since July 31. Six people were killed in the floods, it said.

At least 130 cows, buffaloes, goats and pigs were also killed by the flooding. More than 70,000 acres of farms were destroyed. Eighty-five lakes were flooded, and three bridges and five embankments were damaged or destroyed.

“What is worse is the restrictions on delivery of relief supplies by international organisations,” said U Khaing Kaung San, who has been helping storm and flood victims. “They [the regime] do not help people properly, and also do not allow others to help the people. So, there are a lot of challenges for the people to recover.”

The regime provided little assistance for people in Arakan State in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha, and people have barely received any help from the regime after the recent floods.

More than 370 houses were damaged or destroyed in some displacement camps in Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U townships by recent floods.

“We need timber and bamboo to repair houses. People now have to live in trembling houses. Displaced people have been battered by storms and floods,” said U Than Aye, manager of the Nyaungchaung displacement camp in Kyauktaw.

Nearly 290,000 houses were damaged or destroyed in northern Arakan State by Cyclone Mocha, which hit Arakan State on May 14. The cyclone also affected more than 1.5 million people, according to the AA.