Arakan News Agency
Residents of Burma’s low-lying delta region are bracing themselves as flood waters from the north of the country began to flow into the area, pushing river levels dangerously high.
More than 250,000 people have been affected and 69 killed by flooding that was triggered last week by monsoon rains, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement said.
Water has reportedly risen above spillways at 40 dams across the country, which is also known as Myanmar.
It is believed that elderly people, women and children are being moved out of dangerous areas.
The Ayeyarwady delta is Burma’s major rice producing area and the United Nations has raised concern over the country’s food security.
The government appealed for international aid to bolster relief its efforts on Monday and US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would announce an aid package. Mr Kerry was speaking in Kuala Lumpur.
Mr Kerry said that the US embassy in Yangon was working closely with Burmese officials to determine priorities for aid.
Burma’s call for international relief marked a major change from 2008 when the then-military government shunned most outside help in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which killed 130,000 people.
Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said it would provide blankets, mattresses and plastic sheets following the government’s appeal for help.
Source : Reuters
