Myanmar: Humanitarian Update on Monsoon Season Floods, 21 July 2017

Overview:

Monsoon rains and increased water levels in major rivers have caused seasonal floods in Magway and Sagaing regions since the beginning of July. In addition, Ayeyarwady, Bago and Mandalay regions, as well as Kayin State, have been affected by floods since the second week of July due to continuous heavy rains. According to the Government of Myanmar’s Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) in Nay Pyi Taw, as of 21 July more than 91,000 people across 29 townships in Magway, Sagaing, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions, as well as in Kayin State, have been temporarily displaced/evacuated since early July and at least two people have died due to floods and landslides. In addition to the cumulative number of people who have been displaced/evacuated between 2 and 21 July, thousands more are affected by flooding. People who are displaced are staying in monasteries, with host families or in temporary shelters. However, many people remain staying in their houses while monitoring the impact of the water level. As water levels have receded in some areas of Sagaing, people are starting to return to their homes.

Magway is the most severely affected region with almost 63,000 people, who have been temporarily displaced/evacuated across 12 townships. Pokkoku and Yesagyo are the most affected townships with 34,000 and 13,000 people temporarily displaced, respectively. In both townships, RRD has built evacuation sites with support from civil society organizations. In the Sagaing Region, more than 23,000 people have been temporarily displaced in nine townships between 2 and 13 July. After the water level of Chindwin River receded in Homalin and Hkamti townships in Sagaing, people have started to return to their homes earlier this week. In Bago Region, more than 4,600 people have been temporarily displaced/evacuated in three townships since 12 July. As the water levels of Ngawun and Thanlwin rivers have exceeded their danger levels during this week, 240 people in Hlaingbwe Township, Kayin State, and 470 people in Danubyu Township, Ayeyarwady Region, were displaced/evacuated. In Mandalay Region, thousands of people have reportedly moved to safer locations on as a preventive measure, however, the number of people temporarily displaced has not yet been confirmed."

Response:

The Government of Myanmar is leading the floods response. RRD, in coordination with local authorities and different government departments, is responding to the immediate needs of displaced families by providing cash to purchase a seven-day food ration and distributing drinking water and relief items, including hygiene and family kits. RRD has also provided cash assistance to repair/rebuild houses for families whose houses were washed away. As of 21 July, RRD has provided emergency assistance totaling MMK 127 million (approximately US$ 93,000) to displaced and/or affected families. RRD has also pre-positioned emergency tarpaulins and water purification tablets in Ayeyarwady, Bago and Magway regions and is planning to distribute life jackets in Sagaing and Rakhine and sandbags in the Ayeyarwady Region. In collaboration with township health departments, local authorities are planning to chlorinate water sources and to clean/renovate ponds in areas where flood waters have subsided.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) is providing evacuation services in affected townships and assisting with water and sanitation in evacuation sites. MRCS has conducted initial assessments in affected townships and is providing food, drinking water, emergency tarpaulins, hygiene kits, chlorine powder sachets and oral rehydration salt packages as well as first aid and emergency healthcare services. INGOs are also providing water and sanitation support, including chlorination of water sources and distributing water purification tablets in the Sagaing Region. An inter-agency mission comprised UN and INGOs joined by RRD and MRCS in Sagaing visited Kalewa, Mingin and Monywa townships in Sagaing Region from 17 to 20 July to better understand the situation and impact of the floods. No immediate humanitarian needs or gaps were identified at this stage. However, waterborne disease preventive measures, as well as hygiene and health education, need to be enhanced in flood-affected townships.

The UN and INGOs are monitoring the situation and remain in close contact local and national authorities and stand to provide support to the Government’s response. Local humanitarian groups (CSOs), as well as the private sector are also monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide support, as needed.

Weather outlook:

The Government of Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) has issued flood warnings for several townships for coming days as the water levels of major rivers have exceeded danger levels and have advised people who live in low lying areas/close to rivers to take precautionary measures. DMH reported on 21 July that rains or thundershowers will be widespread in all states and regions, with increased rains in Ayeyarwady, Bago and Yangon regions as well as in Kayin, Mon and Rakhine states.

For further information, please contact:

Eva Modvig, Public Information and Reports Officer, OCHA Myanmar, Email: modvig@un.org, Tel. (+95) 9 797 007 821

Htet Htet Oo, Humanitarian Reporting and Communications Officer, OCHA Myanmar, Email: ooh@un.org, Tel. (+95) 9 797 007 826

For more information, please visit http://www.unocha.org/myanmar.