On May 31, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) issued an announcement stating that the 1.6 million individuals residing in the northwestern region of Myanmar and Rakhine state, who have been impacted by Cyclone Mocha, are still in urgent need of secure shelter.
According to UNOCHA Myanmar, while 63,000 people affected by the cyclone have already received shelter and relief materials, there is an immediate and pressing requirement for broader access and assistance in the distribution of these materials to reach a larger number of affected individuals.
When DMG contacted the residents of villages in Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships about international assistance, they mentioned that they had received some aid, but not from international organizations and not from UN agencies.
U Moe Zaw, the village in-charge of Sin Inn Gyi Village in Ponnagyun Township, reported that the Township General Administration Department (GAD) provided assistance to the entire village. This aid included 15 zinc plates, 6 bottles of edible oil, 5.04 kg of iron, 4 cartons of noodles, and a quantity of rice.
"International organizations have failed to offer any assistance. GAD's provision of only 15 zinc sheets for the entire village falls short. Urgent shelter is desperately needed in the village, as they currently lack a place to seek refuge during rainfall. Yesterday, the ICRC raised inquiries, but it remains uncertain whether any support will be granted," U Moe Zaw expressed.
UNOCHA has stated that while humanitarian organizations are awaiting approval for ground access, they are making efforts to provide access to shelter, water, basic healthcare, and emergency food using existing permits.
The UN’s WFP ( World Food Programme) has admitted that 15.2 million people, 28% of Myanmar people are short of food which puts Myanmar in the same league as Syria and DRC -the Congo in Africa.
Sa Par Htar (aka) Zayat Hla village, located in Rathedaung township, experienced the destruction of over 180 houses due to the cyclone. However the reconstruction process has hardly begun with the Junta keeping up its denial of any kind of aid to vast areas of Rakhine and other part of Myanmar.
Daw Sandar Win from Zayat Hla village said, "At the moment, we have nowhere to call home. We are unable to purchase zinc sheets, tarpaulins, raincoats, or nails. Some of us don't even have enough rice to eat, resorting to borrowing from others. It's an incredibly traumatic situation for the children as well."
Currently local residents and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are trying to construct their own temporary houses. However, there is an immediate and pressing requirement for zinc sheets, flooring materials, and other essential household items.
U Soe Win Chey, who is in charge of the IDP camp east of Zedi Taung, Rathedaung Township, said, "The repaired huts are not able to withstand heavy rain. It would be much more beneficial if organizations could assist in building proper houses. In the event of heavy rainfall and strong winds, the temporary repairs won't last long. Currently, efforts are being made to repair the collapsed huts for temporary living conditions."
The State Military Council has made an announcement stating that Cyclone Mocha, which struck Rakhine State on May 14, has impacted a total of 1,156,796 individuals. The cyclone has caused significant damage estimated at 4,698.6 million Kyats and resulted in the unfortunate loss of 148 lives. However ngos and international organisations say that these the state- based figures are not unreliable and the real situation is far worse than these official data suggest suggests.
