Cyclone victims are in need of assistance and are facing rehabilitation difficulties in Chin State which is the second most affected region by the powerful Cyclone Mocha.
“The UN agencies should provide aid as Chin State is the second most affected state after Arakan State. Funds raised in respective townships are low. The rehabilitation systems will be quite difficult. Providing support in the form of a local INGO will not be effective. It is very difficult to fully satisfy their demands,” said U Pyi Min, Vice-Chair of the Interim Khumee Chin Race Affairs Consultative Council.
On 13 May, Cyclone Mocha destroyed nearly 3,000 houses including religious buildings, schools and rice barns across Chin State. Matupi, Paletwa, Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships were the most affected ones.
U Pyi Min said: “The National Unity Government (NUG) provided assistance as much as it can for the preparation before the storm. It also provided aid for roofs. It is not a huge assistance. It cannot provide ration and aid for reconstruction.”
The people from Matupi Township, which was the most affected by Cyclone Mocha, have to repair the damaged houses on a self-reliant basis, said an information officer of the CDF-Matupi.
“After the storm, the people in Matupi have not received any cash assistance. At present, the village youth organizations and local residents are repairing damaged buildings as much as possible in cooperation with the administrative organization. The people from the village that were not affected by the storm helped us. No other organization has come here to effectively help the victims,” said an information officer of Chinland Defense Force (CDF)-Matupi.
An official of the Kanpetlet Township Public Administration Body said that Kanpetlet Township, which suffered the most damage, has not yet received assistance from domestic and foreign organizations and is having difficulty repairing damaged homes.
“The people have not got any assistance yet. They have to repair the damaged houses by asking for help from their relatives. Those whose houses were totally destroyed have to live in the houses of their relatives,” he said.
The Cyclone Mocha destroyed 2,774 houses in total—1,211 in Matupi Township, 654 in Mindat Township, 400 in Paletwa Township, 211 in Kanpetlet Township, 105 in Hakha Township, 100 in Falam Township, 51 in Tedim Township and 41 in Thantlang Township. There was no report of damage in Tonzang Township, according to the statement by the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) on 23 May.
The cyclone destroyed 185 schools, 102 religious building, 12 health facilities, 259 rice barns and six halls and killed 50 domestic cattle, 13 poultry and six pigs and goats.
The ICNCC has announced that there is an urgent need to provide CI sheets, nails, water-proof sheets, tarpaulin, basic food stuff and basic household medicines in the Mocha-hit townships.
Sent by KMG.