Hundreds of cyclone victims in Magway Region in need of emergency aid

By Admin 19 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
19 May 2023, Htilin, Magway Region

Some 600 internally displaced people (IDPs) are reportedly in need of emergency assistance after over 120 shelters at a displacement camp in Htanpin Kone Lay Village, part of Magway Region’s Htilin Township, were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha.

The Maw Creek water level rose due to the heavy rains caused by the cyclonic storm, which made landfall near the Arakan State capital Sittwe on May 14, inundating the IDP camp at Htanpin Kone Lay Village, said an aid worker.

“More than 120 shelters were swept away by floodwaters, leaving over 600 IDPs homeless. Emergency assistance is needed for the IDPs,” the aid worker added.

The IDP camp at Htanpin Kone Lay Village houses around 10,000 IDPs from approximately 3,000 households. Most of whom were displaced by fighting between the military and local anti-regime forces in February of this year.

Though the storm victims have been moved to safer locations, they are in urgent need of food, shelter and drinking water, said an official from the Yaw Revolution Army (YRA-Htilin).

“The water receded and the IDPs were evacuated to safer locations. The IDPs are facing various difficulties as their shelters were washed away by the floods,” he explained. “We face travel barriers to send food and drinking water to the IDPs because the road and bridges were destroyed by the storm.”

The displacement camp is located in a low-lying area between Maw Creek and Htanpin Kone Village.

Cyclone Mocha damaged or destroyed thousands of homes across 96 villages in Htilin Township, according to local people, as well as damaging seven rural bridges.