Death toll in Rakhine State reaches 163 from Cyclone Mocha

FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

Warning: Graphic content. The death toll from Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State has reached 163, according to information gathered by DVB from local reporters and rescue teams, up to May 26. In Sittwe Township, 116 Rohingya bodies were recovered from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Five Rakhine bodies were found in other villages.

This means 121 people in Sittwe died. In Rathedaung Township, 19 Rohingya and 4 Rakhine bodies were recovered in Mosay Gyun village. Thirteen bodies were recovered in Don Pine village. One body was recovered in Pauk Pyin village and one in Ma Gyi Chaung village. This means 38 people in Rathedaung died.

In Pauktaw Township, two bodies were recovered. In Kyauktaw Township another two bodies were found. This means four people died in Pauktaw and Kyauktaw. “Another 19 Rohingya died at sea when their boats overturned,” said Anuwa Zardek, a Mosay Gyun village resident. Locals report that cyclone survivors haven’t received any humanitarian assistance.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) stated that it is still awaiting approval from Naypyidaw to distribute aid to survivors of Cyclone Mocha. Aid groups are seeking to provide shelter, water, sanitation and food in storm affected areas amidst the onset of the monsoon season.

UNOCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer Danielle Parry met with the Minister for International Cooperation Ko Ko Hlaing on May 31. The two discussed the provision of humanitarian assistance to cyclone-impacted communities. UNOCHA launched a $333 million USD flash appeal to support 1.6 million people in Rakhine State and northwestern Burma. The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided food to more than 107,000 people as well as shelter materials and other items to 7,700 households in Rakhine State alone.

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