Some 1.6 million people In the states of Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing and Kachin are in dire need of assistance after Mocha’s 250 km/h gusts destroyed homes, farmland and livestock.
Speaking from Sittwe, the capital of the hard-hit Rakhine state, the United Nations Development Program (UN Development Program)UNDP) Myanmar’s resident representative, Titon Mitra, said timing is as important as food reserves have been “completely wiped out”Water sources need urgent decontamination and the monsoon is “just a few weeks away”.
In need of access
“The international community must have broad access to affected communities. And it’s a very urgent request,” he said.
Last month, the UN show a Lightning Appeal of $333 million for Myanmar. While some support is being done, Mr. Mitra said that it is “nowhere close enough” at the present time due to lack of access and support in rural areas is still “disproportionate”.
“A number of donors in the region have provided some support, and that is channeled through military logistics because CSOs (civil society organizations) and UN organizations are now available,” said Mr. Mitra. have limited access.
‘Depoliticize, demilitarize’ aid
The UN official emphasized that a distribution plan has been submitted to the military authorities, noting that “it needs to be resolved very soon so that international organizations with their CSO partners can can move freely”.
More than two years since Myanmar’s generals staged a military coup, unleashing widespread violence and civil unrest, Mr. politicize and demilitarize aid, because the need is so great.”
Rural livelihoods are threatened
Recovery could take years, he added, noting that the majority of those affected were already “the poorest of the poor”.
Concern is also growing rapidly about the future of rural livelihoodswhen about 1,200 square kilometers of land was flooded by Mocha, while rain combined with high tides devastated agriculture and fisheries.
A local resident cleans up heavy damage to his shop caused by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Rakhine State, Myanmar.
Risk of food security crisis
Mr Mitra warned that the relief provision itself was “not enough” and that if people were not able to grow food crops within the next few weeks, it could happen. “major food crisis” emerge in the coming months.
“Households have lost their seed source. So we predict, unless there is an effective response, food availability and affordability will become major issues,” he stressed.
Earlier this week, the United Nations included Myanmar in the list of 18 “hungry hotspot” where severe food insecurity is projected to increase.
‘Circle of suffering’
Already Before the Mocha attack, 80% of the people in Rakhine lived in poverty and 200,000 were internally displaced. According to UNDP data, by 2022, half of the state’s population will have to cut their meals due to the economic crisis.
Mr Mitra warned that if swift action by the international community did not materialize, “we risk continuing an unending cycle of suffering”.
