Relief aids provided by foreign countries through Myanmar’s military council have not yet reached the population affected by Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State, even after more than 20 days since the storm hit, according to those affected by the storm.
Thailand has reportedly donated about 20 tonnes of relief items such as temporary tents, mosquito nets and instant noodles, while India, through the military council, has donated 25 tonnes of relief items such as tents, sardine cans, tarpaulins, bread and medical supplies to storm victims in the country’s western state.
In addition, members of ASEAN donated more than $60,000 worth of relief goods through the junta.
Victims of the storm claimed the relief goods had not reached the storm-affected areas even after more than 20 days, although donations had been received since 18 May – four days after the storm.
“We haven’t received more from the military council than two cans of rice and a duck egg. We haven’t received any building materials either. The rice was not enough even for a full meal. We haven’t received anything like sardine cans or nutritious bread that people have been waiting for. The children cry out when they are hungry in the middle of the day. We have no money to buy them food,” said a woman from Sittwe.
A resident of Ponnagyun Township said he had high hopes for aid when it was announced that international governments, through the military council, had donated building materials and food aid for the storm-affected population, but the junta distributed only two cans of rice, which he did not accept.
“We had expected building materials early on because all the houses were destroyed. We thought we would get this help from abroad. But the military council gave us only two cans of rice. Two cans of rice can’t make us feel better when our lives were completely destroyed by the storm. So I didn’t bother to go there and get it, thinking my life would be even more peaceful if I starved to death,” the man said.
With the onset of the rainy season, people affected by the storm in Arakan State are in desperate need of food and shelter.
“A safe place from wind and rain would be just enough for us. For the rest, we’ll earn a living. We have great difficulty living here in the cloudy weather where it rains almost every evening these days. Even though we can’t eat full meals, we would like to have a safe place to live and a good night’s rest. We are completely exhausted now,” said a 50-year-old displaced person from Kyauktaw.
According to reports, the military council has not only failed to deliver international relief supplies, but has also denied non-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to areas to distribute much-needed relief supplies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also said on 31 May that it was still awaiting approval from the military council for full access to help storm-affected people in Arakan State who urgently need food, shelter and construction materials.
Sent by Narinjara.