UNDP pledges assistance to farmers, fishermen affected by Cyclone Mocha

By Admin 08 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 June 2023, Sittwe

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says it will provide business equipment to farmers and fishermen affected by Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State.

“We are expanding our support to fishers and farmers in the coming weeks, providing them with critical tools to get them up and running, including paddy seeds, fertilizer, crab traps, boats and nets,” UNDP said in a statement on June 7.

This will help improve food security for many people across Arakan State, the UN agency’s statement added.

UNDP is also distributing a variety of seeds across Arakan State, reaching more than 35,000 people so far and enabling them to grow fruits and vegetables in their home gardens ahead of the monsoon season, the statement reads.

When Cyclone Mocha tore through Arakan State, it devastated farmland, destroyed seed stocks, and left fishing boats in splinters. Farmers’ and fishers’ livelihoods are in tatters, the statement said.

Local people in Thae Khon Village, Pauktaw Township, where residents mainly work in the marine industry, are having difficulties resuming their work as their fishing boats were damaged by the storm.

“We face various hardships because we rely on fishing for our livelihood,” said Daw Ma Myint San, a local fisherwoman from Thae Khon Village.

A total of 11,799 cattle were killed  and over 70,000 baskets of rice seeds were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State, according to Myanmar’s military regime.

Storm-affected farmers are facing challenges to start farming and are hoping for help from donors as the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) has indicated that the arrival of monsoon season will be late in Arakan State this year, and the seasonal rains will recede earlier than normal.

“We hope that aid reaches the ground as soon as possible. We will only be able to continue our work as soon as aid arrives on the ground. We welcome any assistance and hope for more aid,” said U Hla Saw Tun, the administrator of Minphyu Village in Rathedaung Township.

Agriculture and fishing, the lifeblood of the Arakan State economy, were greatly disrupted by Cyclone Mocha and in the long run, domestic food security may deteriorate, UNDP warned.