Nearly 1 million affected by Myanmar floods; 99 dead

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Nearly 1 million affected by Myanmar floods; 99 dead

MIN KYI THEIN, Associated Press

NYAUNG KON VILLAGE, Myanmar (AP) — The number of people affected by flooding across Myanmar was approaching 1 million on Sunday, with waters in the low-lying southwestern delta inundating homes and forcing villagers into temporary shelters, the government said. The death toll was on the verge of topping 100.

In some places, only the roofs of homes could be seen. International aid is on the way following appeals by the government, but so far, most of the help has come from volunteers ferrying noodles, rice and clean water door-to-door in small boats.

Heavy monsoon rains that began in late June — compounded more recently by Cyclone Komen — have triggered some of Myanmar's worst flash floods and landslides in recent memory. All but two of the country's 14 states have been affected.

The death toll reached 99 on Sunday and more than 900,000 people have been affected — a third of them in the Irrawaddy Delta, said Phyu Lei Lei Tun, director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

It is here — in a desperately poor region known as the Rice Bowl — that several mighty rivers meet before feeding into the sea.

Downstream waters have caused river banks to burst, swallowing up rice paddies and homes.

Some of the affected people have been displaced, while others are living in houses that have been inundated by water, unwilling to leave their homes.

Zin Mar Htun was seeking refuge in a school with six family members, including her 11-month-old son, after their house was flushed away in the raging waters. "We had our own raft, so we sought refuge here," she said.

The United Nations pledged $9 million in assistance this past week, but so far most help has come from private citizens and non-governmental organizations.

Myanmar's appeal was in sharp contrast to its response following Cyclone Nargis in 2008, when the nation's then-military rulers refused international aid and largely downplayed the destruction — though more than 100,000 people were killed.

A nominally civilian government now runs the country, but critics say it's not moving quickly enough to help those in need.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-10

[gregk0543]

I went out on a private expedition yesterday to deliver a truck load of aid donated by our family to an area north of Yangon on the way to Pyay.

We visited 5 relief centres set up in temples and a karen baptist church. What amazed me was how many private companies and individuals and groups were on the roads delivering each there own amount of food and clean water etc. It is simple amazing how generous Myanmar people can be. Many many people trying to do their little bit to help. Most of the vehicles on the road seemed to be involved. Even the toll road gave all relief cars exemption.

Everyone is in good spirits and people are getting fed where I went there was no sense of desperation. There are still people outside in the flooded areas who have not moved. The water started to go down there yesterday. So this is relief stage.

Next stage is reconstruction and many houses unknown at this point have been washed away. Then crops have been destroyed. So new seed will be needed to replant.

The doctor I talked with had been in that area for 30 years and never seen a flood of this size.

Each local town has designated places for displaced persons and there were police and a system in place. How stretched it is I could not tell.

One thing that surprised me was also the number of displaced cows and bullocks on the edge of the flooded areas, moved to higher ground.

If you have the opportunity to donate please give anything even a little as it all helps in some way.

The Myanmar people are very resilient and they will pick themselves up and move on but they need any assistance that your may be able to give at this time.

You can help and make a difference. There must be more inaccessible areas that will be struggling and will need more assistance than private groups can give.

Edited August 10, 2015 by gregk0543