Buthidaung, Arakan State: Rohingya businessmen, who have arrived in north Arakan from Rangoon after the floods have distributed relief to the flood victims since June 17, said a local youth from Buthidaung.
They distributed 15 kgs of rice or one bag (50 kg) rice and Kyat 1,000 per household in Thanga Net village and other villages. Similarly they also distributed rice and money to Nan Ra Goon and Moghbill villages of Buthidaung Township.
They also tried to distribute rice to Ward No.5 of Buthidaung town, but it was postponed because of problems between villagers and distributors.
According to a local villager, the government and other NGOs are collecting lists of flood victims across the Buthidaung Township for relief. The members of GRATE are collecting the list of cattle lost during the flood. The farmers also lost paddy seedlings.
In Buthidaung Township, many houses were destroyed; many animals including goats and chicken died due to the recent flood. A mosque in Ngaran Chaung village of Taung Bazaar was washed away by the flood. According to sources, 49 people were killed in Buthidaung Township during the flood.
Rice, paddy, pulses, onion, garlic, potatoes, sugar, chemical fertilizer, chili, ground nut, wheat, ginger and other goods were destroyed in Buthidaung market and in the villages by the flood waters. Amir Hussain of Thanga Net village lost much rice, paddy and pulses, said a shopkeeper of Buthidaung market.
In Buthidaung township, the price of rice is normal, and a kg of rice is being sold at Kyat 270 to 333 according to quality. But, one Viss (one Viss= 1.64 kg) of salt is sold at Kyat 1,000.
In Maungdaw Township, 35 people were killed by the flood, according to sources. Some of the farmlands were destroyed by the flood which carried sand and big stones to the paddy fields, so that the lands are damaged. But, some of the paddy fields were covered by alluvial soil by the floods, so it benefits the farmers to grow paddy without tilling. The flood also destroyed many shrimp projects in Maungdaw Township and the owners of the projects lost much money in these projects, said a local trader of Maungdaw Town.
In Maungdaw Township, the price of rice is skyrocketing. One rice bag of (50) kg is being sold in open Market at Kyat 22,000 to 25,000, while it was only 14,000 to 15,000 Kyat before the floods. But, at present, rice is being brought to Maungdaw Town by some rice traders from Akyab (Sittwee), the capital of Arakan State and sold to flood victims at lower prices. The traders sell one bag of (50kg) rice to every family at the rate of only Kyat 10,000, said a rice trader of locality.
Other goods such as --- one Viss of onion is being sold at Kyat 2,000, one Viss of edible oil is 2,400, one Viss of mustard oil is 2,700 and one gallon of kerosene is being sold at Kyat 5,000.
The Maungdaw-Buthidaung high way, which is 16 miles long, was totally destroyed by the heavy rain and recent floods. The government is only dumping soil from the road and does not take any initiative to re-construct bridges, which were destroyed due to floods. So, the people of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships have been facing communication difficulties. Some of the people went to Maungdaw from Buthidaung for important purpose on foot. It will take at least three months for the situation to normalize, said a trader from Buthidaung town.
The Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC), District PDC and land-survey members are collecting lists of flood victims’ destroyed lands and also preparing to provide aid to flood victims in Maungdaw Township, said a local businessman.
