Attachments
Emergency appeal №: MDRMM021
Emergency appeal launched: 18/09/2024
Operational Strategy published: 28/09/2024
Operation update #1
Date of issue: 26/10/2024
Operation timeframe: 12 months (18/09/2024 – 30/09/2024)
Funding requirements (CHF):
CHF 2.5 million through the IFRC Emergency Appeal
CHF 3.5 million Federation-wide
Glide №: TC-2024-000161-MMR
Timeframe covered by this update: From 18/09/2024 to 16/10/2024
Number of people targeted: 25,000
DREF amount initially allocated: CHF 950,000
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
On 8 September 2024, remnants of Typhoon Yagi that struck Vietnam caused strong winds and heavy rainfall across Myanmar, triggering severe flooding and landslides. The severe weather continued until 12 September and affected an estimation of 1 million people in 70 townships across nine states and regions, including Southern and Eastern Shan, Kayah, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Magway, Kayin, Bago, and Mon.
On 12 September, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) activated its national-level Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and local MRCS branches began their responses. By 14 September, State-run newspaper reported that the Myanmar State Administration Council (SAC) made a request for assistance from other countries for the flood response.
As of 27 September, more than 360 fatalities have been reported with many more injured and more than 100 missing due to severe flooding(1). Several days after the torrential rains triggered by Typhoon Yagi that has caused widespread floods and landslides in Myanmar, the displaced people associated to this event was estimated as more than 320,000 people by 14 September 2024, forcing them into temporary camps that were often overcrowded and lacked sufficient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. The destruction caused by the floods also affected over 141,000 buildings, including homes, schools, offices, and critical infrastructure, such as 533 roads and bridges, according to reports. Several low-pressure systems that were developed concurrently around Bay of Bengal have brought continuous and persistent rains that caused recurrent flooding. In the beginning of October, recurrent flooding impacted Mandalay region, Eastern and Southern Shan states. This has hindered continuation of needs analysis, delivery of relief items, and provision of humanitarian assistance.
Local markets, health facilities, and homes were devastated, significantly reducing access to food, water, and medical supplies. The agricultural sector suffered tremendous losses, with reports noting more than 838,000 acres of rice paddies and crops destroyed and over 176,000 animals lost(2). The timing of the disaster, coinciding with the end of the rice planting season, worsened food insecurity for communities that depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The damage extended to telecommunications and power infrastructure, with over 90 telecommunications towers and 2,700 electricity poles reported as destroyed. This disruption complicated communication, coordination, and aid distribution efforts. Access to clean water became extremely limited as household water systems and community sources were damaged or contaminated, raising the risk of waterborne diseases. The floods posed significant risks to both the physical and mental well-being of affected communities. The disruption of water systems limited access to clean drinking water, which, combined with poor sanitation conditions in temporary camps, increases the risk of disease outbreaks. The lack of proper hygiene facilities in overcrowded shelters compounded these risks, putting many at heightened risk of illness.
The widespread damage to roads and transport infrastructure hindered the transportation of patients and limited access to healthcare services. Disrupted supply chains further restricted the availability of essential medicines, increasing the likelihood of preventable health complications and fatalities.
In areas affected by clashes, the floods exacerbated pre-existing risks, with floodwaters displacing unexploded ordnances and shifting land masses, endangering vulnerable communities. The psychological toll was also severe, with thousands of people displaced, many missing, and homes and livelihoods destroyed. Survivors face long-term mental health challenges as they grapple with loss and trauma, highlighting the urgent need for mental health and psychosocial support.
Summary of response
The MRCS, the country's largest humanitarian organization, operates under the Myanmar Red Cross Law of 2015, which defines its unique humanitarian mandate as the national red cross society and its auxiliary role to public authorities in humanitarian activities. With a network of 1,827 trained Emergency Response Team volunteers and over 55,000 members, including 6,432 active Red Cross Volunteers (RCVs)(3), MRCS maintains a strong local presence across Myanmar. It operates 274 local township branches supported by 12 Emergency Operations Centres and 32 warehouses, allowing for effective disaster preparedness and response nationwide.
MRCS has long-standing experience and operational capacity in the regions affected by the recent floods and landslides. Its response includes the provision of emergency relief and hygiene items, cash assistance, mobile clinics, and primary healthcare services. MRCS's multi-year programs in affected states and regions enhance its ability to respond to crises, with ongoing disaster relief efforts in Bago under the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Their well-coordinated disaster management system ensures rapid deployment of resources and personnel to flood-affected areas.
MRCS's headquarters and field-based staff include departments specializing in disaster management, first aid, health services, logistics, and communications. Their continued efforts, in collaboration with other organizations, focus on ensuring relief, evacuation, and health services for those affected by the floods while upholding the humanitarian principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
On 18 September 2024, the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) launched a Federation-wide emergency appeal for CHF 3.5 million targeting 7,000 households (35,000 people). The IFRC Secretariat aims to contribute CHF 2.5 million with a CHF 950,000 DREF loan allocation to kick-start the operation. The geographical focus of the operation is in the most affected areas of Bago, Eastern and Southern Shan, Kayah, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw – noting that IFRC is already supporting MRCS with a DREF operation covering Ayeyarwady, Kayin, Tanintharyi, Yangon, Mon and Bago for monsoon floods from August 2024 (MDRMM020).
As of 16 October 2024, MRCS, with the support of its partners, including IFRC and Partners National Societies (PNS) and through its local branches, has reached more than 25,000 people with multi sectoral assistance, including the immediate lifesaving support during evacuation and search and rescue effort, across six states/regions (Bago, Kayah, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Eastern Shan and Southern Shan). MRCS has been providing emergency shelter and household items, including 839 tarpaulins, 27 family kits, 920 blankets, 92 kitchen sets, 3,983 pieces of clothes, 300 pairs of slippers, 100 raincoats, and 100 fiber hats for search and rescue, reaching out to more than 8,000 people. Additionally, trained volunteers delivered first aid to 250 people, provided mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to 83 individuals, conducted health and hygiene awareness sessions for over 2,000 people, and distributed 679 long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), across the six states and regions.
Furthermore, MRCS distributed bottled drinking water and hygiene items — including hygiene kits, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), soap, and Aqua tabs (a water purifying agent) — benefiting 11,830 people in five states and regions (Bago, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Eastern Shan, and Southern Shan).
MRCS also managed to conclude seven Restoring Family Links (RFL) cases in Naypyitaw and two cases in Kayah, assisting in reconnecting family members of four deceased individuals and conducting awareness sessions on RFL in the camps. Through its local branches, MRCS has continued to collaborate with other organizations to support evacuation and search-and-rescue efforts in Bago, Mandalay, Eastern Shan, and Southern Shan, providing first aid, referral services, and ambulance support to those affected, ensuring ongoing relief efforts.
(1) OCHA 2024 Myanmar Flood Situation Report No.3, 27 September 2024
(2) DDM Flood Situation Report No. 8, dated 26 September 2024
(3) Number of validated registrations as per September 2024 in the MRCS online registration system.