Arakan News Agency
At least 35 people have died in heavily flooded Rakhine State, a government official said yesterday, while another six remain missing.
Eighteen people were killed in Buthidaung, nine in Mrauk-Oo, one in Kyauktaw and seven in Minbya after the state was ravaged by Cyclone Komen.
The latest deaths bring the national tally to at least 63 killed, though the UN has warned the death toll throughout flood-affected regions – where water has swelled above roof level and displaced thousands – is likely to keep climbing.
As the storm slammed through Rakhine State, one of Myanmar’s poorest regions, a total of 33,848 flood victims in five townships were forced to relocate and 130 internally displaced persons camps had to be resettled, according to the government.
At least 140,000 people displaced in 2012’s deadly sectarian violence, mainly Rohingya Muslims, already live in exposed makeshift camps that largely lack sewage or drainage systems.
The state’s hard-hit northern townships have been declared an emergency zone.
“Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-Oo, Buthidaung and Maungdaw are the most heavily affected areas in Rakhine State. We declared these five townships flood disaster areas,” Rakhine State Chief Minister U Maung Maung Ohn said yesterday.
As nearly all land transportation has been cut off due to the rising waters, the government has begun airdropping food and essential supplies to affected townships between Minbya and Mrauk-Oo using three military helicopters.
“Six villages in this area were cut off from everything,” said U San Shwe Aung, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Border Affairs.
The regional government has received K700 million of food, clothing and other donations from individuals, according to local officials.
Source : mmtimes
