Office of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar
UN responds to severe landslides in Northern Rakhine State
The UN has extended its support to people affected by landslides in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State. An estimated 77,000 people could be affected to various degrees, early assessments show.
Continued rains over a period of four days in the Northern Rakhine State (NRS) of Myanmar have caused severe flooding in several areas of Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. To date, the state media reports a death toll of 56 people, mainly due to landslides. The destruction of essential bridges has made logistics and physical access to certain parts of Maungdaw township, in particular, extremely difficult.
For the last two days, several inter-agency assessment teams have been deployed to various locations. Although some remote areas have not yet been reached, it is estimated at this stage that up to 15,000 families (a total population of up to 77,000) could be affected, to various degrees. Water levels have started to recede in all areas visited so far, and some families have started to return to their villages. Others remain displaced.
Humanitarian relief assistance is being provided by the Government, the UN and other humanitarian partners. Various support and relief items such as food and medical items, which are in stock locally, are being distributed to the affected populations. Various UN agencies present in Northern Rakhine State are mobilizing emergency grants for the immediate relief efforts or mobilizing emergency supplies in-country.
Among the items identified as urgently needed and now being delivered are food, medicine and non-food items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, clothes, hygiene kits, ORS solutions, family kits, plastic containers, and water purification tablets.
As roads remain impracticable to deliver supplies from Yangon, a boat loaded with emergency relief supplies will further supplement efforts. The boat, carrying the equivalent of four truck loads of essential items, will leave Yangon over the weekend.
More assistance would be needed to support the recovery efforts, including livelihoods, shelter, medical support, and infrastructure.
The UN has extended its support to people affected by landslides in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State. An estimated 77,000 people could be affected to various degrees, early assessments show.
Continued rains over a period of four days in the Northern Rakhine State (NRS) of Myanmar have caused severe flooding in several areas of Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. To date, the state media reports a death toll of 56 people, mainly due to landslides. The destruction of essential bridges has made logistics and physical access to certain parts of Maungdaw township, in particular, extremely difficult.
For the last two days, several inter-agency assessment teams have been deployed to various locations. Although some remote areas have not yet been reached, it is estimated at this stage that up to 15,000 families (a total population of up to 77,000) could be affected, to various degrees. Water levels have started to recede in all areas visited so far, and some families have started to return to their villages. Others remain displaced.
Humanitarian relief assistance is being provided by the Government, the UN and other humanitarian partners. Various support and relief items such as food and medical items, which are in stock locally, are being distributed to the affected populations. Various UN agencies present in Northern Rakhine State are mobilizing emergency grants for the immediate relief efforts or mobilizing emergency supplies in-country.
Among the items identified as urgently needed and now being delivered are food, medicine and non-food items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, clothes, hygiene kits, ORS solutions, family kits, plastic containers, and water purification tablets.
As roads remain impracticable to deliver supplies from Yangon, a boat loaded with emergency relief supplies will further supplement efforts. The boat, carrying the equivalent of four truck loads of essential items, will leave Yangon over the weekend.
More assistance would be needed to support the recovery efforts, including livelihoods, shelter, medical support, and infrastructure.
For more information, please contact:
The United Nations in Myanmar
Esben Q. Harboe Special Assistant to the UN RC/HC
Tel: +95 9 5074853, esben.harboe@undp.org
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