Floods in Myanmar have affected thousands of people as World Vision worked with local governments and other organisations to deliver aid.
The UN reports 1.1 million people in Myanmar have been affected, with another 103 killed.
Rain has been falling since July and worsened as Cyclone Komen made landfall in coastal Bangladesh this month, causing heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides in different parts of the northwestern regions and states in Myanmar.
Win Zin Oo, World Vision Myanmar’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs director, said: “Naturally, the flood from upper Myanmar will flow down to lower Myanmar. There is a big chance that the flood in lower Myanmar will worsen within two weeks to one month.”
Late Friday night, the Myanmar government declared a state of emergency in the regions of Sagaing and Magwe, and the Rakshine and Chin states. The relentless monsoon rains have caused ravaging floodwaters sweeping through houses, farmlands, bridges and roads.
The weather has hampered relief efforts. In Myanmar, one of the most affected areas - Sagaing region - remains submerged and can only be accessed by helicopter. More than 278,000 ha of farmland has been damaged and 240,000 households displaced.
World Vision’s relief response will target an initial 65,270 people, and include:
- 2.4M water purification sachets provided by World Vision Myanmar to UNICEF and other relief organisations for distribution
- 350 family kits, including a bucket with lid, water filter, tarpaulin sheet, kettle, knife and plastic mats, distributed in Mogaung, Kachin state.
- 500 family kits donated by the Australian Government that arrived this week, and are now on their way to field distribution in Pwintbyu.
In Bangladesh, the government has not declared an emergency. World Vision will continue to monitor the situation as flooding has been ongoing since June and may be prolonged due to the monsoon.