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The situation
Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides in several parts of Myanmar during the last two weeks of July. Cyclone Komen, which made landfall in Bangladesh on 30 July after sitting off the coast of Western Myanmar for several days, brought intensified winds and further heavy rains, which resulted in more floods and landslides in several states and regions in Western and Northern Myanmar. According to available data from Myanmar Red Cross Society branches in the affected areas, as of 2 August, a total of 89,107 persons from 16,386 households have been affected by the flooding and landslides. A total of 27 fatalities and 26 injuries have also been reported. Communications and transportation infrastructure have been impacted, and flood waters have not receded in many areas – these factors combined mean that it is still difficult to access areas and information remains scarce. Meanwhile current weather forecasts are predicting that rain will continue for several more days, which could result in further flooding. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, flooding has inundated nearly 400,000 acres of farmland, destroyed 30,000 acres and damaged more than 73,000 acres.
The Government’s Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) is reporting that over 156,000 people have been affected across Sagaing, Kachin, Shan, Mandalay, Chin, Rakhine, Kayin, Mon, Bago, Magway, Ayeyarwady and Yangon States and Regions. However, estimates from other government departments are significantly higher and information on the impact and number of people affected in the three of the worst affected states - Rakhine, Chin and Magway – is still very limited. Figures could increase significantly in the coming days as assessment teams access more areas and further information becomes available. According to government sources, at least 27 people have been killed by the floods in July, but this figure is expected to rise as more information becomes available.
On 31 July, the President of Myanmar issued a statement declaring natural disaster zones in Chin and Rakhine states and in the Sagaing and Magway regions, stating “the following regions which are hugely affected by natural disasters and have challenges for rapid restoration to normality, are announced as natural disaster zones (1) Chin State, (2) Sagaing Region, (3) Magway Region and (4) Rakhine State.”