The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has announced that discussions are still ongoing with the Military Council in Nay Pyi Taw to provide humanitarian aid to the areas affected by Cyclone Mocha, even after more than a week since the cyclone hit Myanmar.
UNOCHA has expressed readiness to provide two weeks of humanitarian aid to all individuals affected by the cyclone in Rakhine State and Chin State. They have further stated that details of the distribution plan will be released soon, following discussions with the Military Council.
According to a social organization official in Rakhine State, as reported by the Than Lwin Times, the restriction on ground transportation has made it challenging to address cases of diarrhea effectively. Furthermore, the Military Council has not yet granted permission for international organizations to provide assistance in this regard.
"In the current situation, if we can't drain the lake, diarrhea will become a major problem. Solving this issue will be extremely challenging due to restrictions on medicine transportation. We need to obtain a Security and Border Affairs certificate, which adds further complications. While we are uncertain about the involvement of UN organizations, it is possible they have made some preparations in advance. However, it is likely that relief efforts will be delayed for at least a week after the storm," he said.
UNOCHA announced on May 21 that Sittwe and Rathedaung, the most severely affected areas in Rakhine State, are facing problems in obtaining clean drinking water. This is due to damage to public infrastructure and disruptions in the water distribution system, which could lead to the outbreak of infectious diseases.
According to individuals involved in land rescue efforts, in various townships, including Sittwe township, the storm surge has resulted in the intrusion of saltwater into drinking ponds. As a result, the local residents have to manually pump out the water on their own.
The Military Council has deployed a military vehicle and a water tanker to certain urban wards in Sittwe Township to provide clean water. However, residents have expressed concerns that this provision is not sufficient to meet the water needs of the entire Sittwe Township.
According to Rakhine residents and ground relief workers, there is an immediate and critical need for clean drinking water, as well as essential items such as food, shelter, and medicine. This urgent requirement was echoed by multiple sources in their conversation with the Than Lwin Times.
"Getting clean water has become really hard in the town. It's scarce and you can't buy it anymore. In some villages, it's even worse because the lake is completely destroyed, making it almost impossible to find drinking water. People in those villages have to rely on other nearby villages to get water."
According to UNOCHA, numerous animals in coastal villages along the Ah Ngu Maw-Maungdaw road in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships have been severely affected. Additionally, five villages in southern Maungdaw township, including schools, have also suffered damage.
Furthermore, partner organizations have prioritized the distribution of food and crucial relief supplies based on existing approvals. They are prepared to deliver additional supplies once the necessary approval for assistance is granted.
According to the Military Council's data as of the evening of May 21, Cyclone Mocha has claimed the lives of 148 individuals in Rakhine State. However, the National Unity Government (NUG) has reported a higher death toll of over 400 in Rakhine State as of May 17.
On May 16, UNOCHA declared that over 5 million individuals were severely affected by the cyclone as it tore through Myanmar. Among them, more than 3 million people are in desperate need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
