Storm-hit rural Arakan State complains of little relief aid received

By Admin 24 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 May 2023, Sittwe

Rural communities affected by Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State’s Pauktaw, Sittwe, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Gwa townships have so far received little relief aid.

In Rathedaung Township, which suffered casualties and massive property damage, many villages still do not receive relief supplies, said local people.

“The entire village was destroyed. We are starving. Authorities have not yet come to help us,” said U Thun Thein Che of Saparhtar Village in Rathedaung Township.

Rural communities are starving as their foods were ruined by the cyclone. Meanwhile, most of the people whose houses were destroyed or damaged by the storm can’t afford to rebuild or repair their houses, and they have been forced to stay in monasteries or makeshift tents.

Authorities are surveying property damage, but have not provided any assistance so far, said Daw Mya Thein Tin from Lanpikekwin Village in Kyauktaw Township.

“No one in my village has received relief items so far,” said Daw Mya Thein Tin.

The Arakan State Administration Council said on May 20 that it had distributed basic foodstuffs including rice, cooking oil and salt to residents of 56 villages affected by Cyclone Mocha in Mrauk-U Township.

The regime is carrying out relief operations in some urban wards, but it has barely supplied remote areas.

A social activist from Arakan State said priority should be given to rural communities as they desperately need food supplies.

“As a government in power, they have full responsibility to help storm victims. It is irresponsible to only supply wards, and not to supply remote villages,” said the activist.

The Arakan State Administration Council said on May 19 that more than 1.1 million were affected by the cyclone across Arakan State, and financial losses totaled 4.6 billion kyats.

People affected by the cyclone need assistance in various ways, and local residents have called on authorities to step up relief operations.