Heavy rains and rising water levels in the Sittaung River have caused damage to rice fields in Kyauktaga, Mone and Phyu townships in Nyaunglebin District in Bago Region due to flooding, leading to livelihood difficulties, according to social relief groups and residents.
Since the heavy rains on 7 October, more than nine villages in Mone have been flooded. According to a statement issued by the Karen National Union (KNU) on 13 October, more than 2,000 acres of farmland have been affected.
As the water level of the Sittaung River continued to rise on the west bank through 16 October, rice fields in Ahnanbaw village tract in Kyauktaga and some villages in Phyu suffered flood damage, according to local farmers.
“The creek water rose, and the water level of the Sittaung River also rose. As a result of the rising river water level, rice fields in Ahnanbaw village tract on the west bank were flooded. Fields on the Phyu-Kyauktaga border and in Mone were also flooded. As in previous days, the water rose from north to south. The rice fields are still flooded. The fields with ripe rice are all covered with water. It is not the whole township, but the lower part,” said a local rice farmer.
Due to the floods, schools in Mone Township are closed, and even though the water has somewhat receded, emergency aid is still needed for flood-affected villages, according to the Karen emergency relief committee of Mone Township.
“At the moment, the water has receded a little. But the flooded rice fields have not recovered yet. In terms of damage, the rice fields on the west bank of the Sittaung River are the most flooded. Only one-third of residents in these villages can continue to make a living, and the rest have been displaced,” said a committee member.
Most residents of Nyaunglebin District make a living from rice, bean and vegetable farming. Due to the current political crisis and conflict, the price of food and agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides have increased, and travel conditions have also deteriorated, residents said.
“It would be good if aid could reach those in need in this area, like the flood victims. Some here have only broken rice and have to eat rice porridge. Because of transportation difficulties, aid groups have no access. The prices are also sky high. A viss of cooking oil costs 15,000 kyat. Onions are so expensive that some can’t use them in every curry. And a bag of rice now costs 150,000 kyat,” said a local woman.
Nyaunglebin District, controlled by the KNU, hosts more than 200,000 people who have been displaced due to the conflict. To date, most villages have been displaced fleeing attacks by military jets and artillery.
In the second week of October, floods from the overflowing Bago River reached as far as Bago City, destroying more than 10,000 acres of rice fields in surrounding villages, according to local sources.
Sent by KIC.