Attachments
To date, this Emergency Appeal, which seeks CHF 2,500,000, is 31 per cent funded. Further funding contributions are needed to enable the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to continue providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by Floods Typhoon Yagi and to support recovery efforts and community resilience building.
A mobilization table was launched for this operation, seeking in-kind or cash donations of relief items for 10,000 households, including items such as solar lamps, 10L foldable jerry cans, tarpaulins, LLINs, blankets, shelter toolkits, kitchen sets, and emergency WASH equipment. These supplies will be divided into distribution to 5,000 households, while the remaining 5,000 sets will be stored as pre-positioned stock, as detailed in the mobilization table.
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Typhoon Yagi caused strong winds and heavy rainfall across Myanmar starting from 8 September 2024, triggering heavy flooding and landslides. The severe weather continued until 12 September and affected an estimated 1.1 million people in 70 townships across nine states and regions, including Bago, Kayah, Kayin, Eastern and Southern Shan, Mandalay, Magway, Mon and Naypyidaw.
As of 27 September, the severe floods caused more than 360 fatalities, with more than 100 people missing and 320,000 people displaced, forcing them into temporary camps/evacuation centres that were often overcrowded and lacked sufficient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Likewise, the floods and landslides caused the destruction of more than 141,000 buildings, including homes, schools, offices, and critical infrastructure, such as 533 roads and bridges.
Furthermore, several concurrent low-pressure systems around Bay of Bengal resulted in persistent rains, leading to additional flooding. In the beginning of October, recurrent flooding impacted Mandalay region, Eastern and Southern Shan states, disrupting needs analysis, relief deliveries, and humanitarian assistance efforts, while compounding the needs of the vulnerable population affected by multiple hazards. Local markets, health facilities, and homes were devastated, significantly reducing access to food, water, and medical supplies.
By the end of October 2024, while road transport was functional throughout the country, access to some affected areas remained challenging. Furthermore, although the water levels had decreased in parts of Kayin, Mon States, and the Bago and Tanintharyi Regions, the floods have caused significant damage to paddy fields, leaving the crops too vulnerable to endure the impact. The agricultural sector suffered tremendous losses, with reports noting more than 2.3 million hectares of crop land destroyed and over 176,000 animals lost. The timing of the disaster, coinciding with the end of the main rice crop growing season, worsened food insecurity for communities that depend on agriculture for their survival and livelihoods.
Moreover, the floods severely damaged telecommunications and power infrastructure, destroying over 90 telecommunications towers and 2,700 electricity poles. This disruption hindered communication, coordination, and aid distribution. The destruction caused by floods also limited access to clean water due to damaged or contaminated household and community sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
The impact on physical and mental well-being was significant, as poor sanitation in overcrowded temporary camps coupled with limited clean drinking water heightened the risk of disease outbreaks. The psychological toll was also severe, with thousands of people displaced, many missing, and homes and livelihoods destroyed. Survivors are at risk of long-term mental health issues, underscoring the urgent need for mental health and psychosocial support. Road and transport damage restricted patient access to healthcare and disrupted supply chains, reducing the availability of essential medicines and raising the likelihood of health complications.
In conflict-affected areas, the floods exacerbated pre-existing risks, with floodwaters displacing unexploded ordnances and shifting land masses, endangering vulnerable communities.