Junta boss, UNOCHA chief talk assistance to storm victims

By Admin 16 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
16 August 2023, Sittwe

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has held talks with Martin Griffiths, under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) – on matters related to supplying relief aid in Myanmar.

During the talks in Nay Pyi Taw on August 15, Min Aung Hlaing told Griffiths that there was little help from international organisations including the United Nations during the outbreak of Covid-19 and the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar, the junta said in a statement.

However, it was not known in detail what agreements were reached between the military regime and the head of the UNOCHA on humanitarian assistance during the meeting.

The junta is restricting the humanitarian activities of international organisations, including the United Nations and local social aid groups, for storm victims on the ground.

Local social organisations in Arakan State have pointed out that people who mainly expect international aid are facing many difficulties in their recovery.

“Residents in the Tawphyarchaung area are reportedly facing difficulties as relief items supplied by local organisations are not reaching them,” said Ko Aung Kyaw Soe, information officer of the Poe Shyee Pyin social organisation in Ponnagyun Township. “Three months after the storm, people have been leaving Arakan State due to livelihood hardships. The storm victims received a few relief aids as the junta restricts international organisations from providing humanitarian aid to those in need in Arakan State. The junta’s assistance to the storm victims is not enough for them.”

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

Many storm victims are still unable to rebuild their homes due to food and financial difficulties, and are asking that international organisations be allowed to travel freely within the affected region.

“There are many people in my village who are still unable to rebuild their homes. Some storm victims stay at their relatives’ homes. I would like to ask the junta to allow international organisations to provide tarpaulin sheets to storm victims,” said Daw Ma Aye Khin, a local woman from Thaungdara Village in Rathedaung Township.

While only about 20 percent of storm victims have received assistance, the regime has imposed travel restrictions on international organisations helping storm victims, as well as on the delivery and distribution of relief supplies, according to a July 21 report from the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar).

The cost of damages to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture from Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar’s Arakan and Chin states and Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions is estimated at US$2.24 billion, the World Bank said in a recent report.