Heavy rain in Arakan State floods some IDP camps

02 Jul 2019

Khaing Roe La | DMG

2 July, Mrauk-U

Torrential rainfall in Arakan State has produced floods in one hundred houses in Sin Baw Kaing IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township, according to relief workers.

The camp is located at the banks of the Lay Myo River. The river banks overflowed due to high tides, the camp in Sin Baw Kaing was flooded and the water level under the houses in the camp has reached two feet, said Ko Khaing Min Shin, who arrived at the camp to provide relief aid.

“Currently, one third of the camp has been flooded. The flood water has seeped into more than 100 houses. It’s possible that the water level will increase over time,” he said.

There are 451 bamboo houses with tarp roofs in the camp where more than 3400 people are living.

Since it’s been raining IDPs are worried that all the houses in the camp will be inundated with flood water if it does not stop raining, Ko Khaing Min Shin said.

“It’s still raining. So, people are concerned about water getting into houses. People have been evacuated now,” he said.

The management team of the camp has planned to relocate the camp to Bawdigone, east of the Sin Baw Kaing village, but people cannot be resettled in a new location because of financial problems, said Myadasaung Sayardaw U Nanda Thara, manager of the camp.

Local residents from nine villages located around the upper area of the Lay Myo River have been taking shelter in the camp following the clashes between the Tatmadaw and the AA near the villages.