Flooding across much of Myanmar adds to woes of war-displaced civilians

Civilians displaced by conflict are facing severe challenges as torrential rains continue to cause heavy flooding across much of Myanmar, according to relief workers. On Monday, junta-controlled state media outlets reported that the regime has assisted tens of thousands of people in flood-affected areas of Yangon, Bago, Ayeyarwady, Tanintharyi, and Sagaing regions and Mon, Karen (Kayin), and Karenni (Kayah) states. This comes after more than 10 days of heavy monsoon-season rains that began in the third week of July, the reports said. In Karen State, more than 5,000 residents of Hpa-An, the state capital, were evacuated as water levels in the Thanlwin (Salween) River rose to 900cm, surpassing the critical flood stage of 750cm, according to regime authorities. Meanwhile, internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering near the state’s border with Thailand have little or no access to aid, say sources in the area. According to a volunteer doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity, the makeshift shelters of many IDPs living in camps set up along the Thaungyin (Moei) River, which forms part of the border, have been swept away by floodwaters. “Many of these shelters housed elderly people and kids. Now they are getting sick, and there is almost no medicine to treat them with,” he said. “Difficult transportation conditions and ongoing fighting are making it almost impossible for aid deliveries to reach them,” he added. The Overseas Irrawaddy Association, a group based in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, said on its Facebook page that its own aid efforts have been impeded by both the weather and the conflict. “We have faced many obstacles while delivering assistance to IDPs in need of help,” the group said. Fields under water Farther north, in southern Shan State’s Pekhon Township, more than 4,000 acres of farmland were flooded along the Baluchaung River after junta troops stationed at the Moebye hydropower dam suddenly released water last week, according to locals. The area is home to more than 10,000 IDPs who have fled fighting in Loikaw, the capital of neighbouring Karenni State. “It wouldn’t have been so bad if they started releasing it earlier, before it reached this level,” said a farmer from Pekhon who told Myanmar Now that his fields were now completely under water. “Five days ago, we could work, use tractors, and even drive motorbikes on the farmland,” said the farmer, adding that the water was as deep as 10-12 feet in some places. A rice field under water near Moebye in southern Shan State (Khun Yaw Han / Facebook) Another farmer said that the flooding covered an area that included six villages. “When our farmland is flooded like this, it’s like throwing our money in the water,” said the farmer, estimating that he lost between 300,000 and 500,000 kyat (about US$90-150) for each acre of his land that was inundated. On social media, another farmer also lamented the loss of his own and others’ rice crops—and the impact that it would have on people already struggling to survive. “There is massive flooding across Myanmar, but Karenni people are in deep trouble now, because of the war and because all of the rice is now under water,” he wrote in a post on Monday. Danger of starvation On the other side of the country, in southern Rakhine State’s Thandwe and Taungup townships, there has been heavy flooding since July 25, according to local relief workers. Although the situation there has not been reported by state media, it has prompted the Arakha Army—formerly the Arakan Army (AA)—to release a statement on July 27 warning locals that water levels in the Tha Htay Chaung hydropower dam, about 20 miles from Thandwe, were dangerously high. The group also asked residents of the area to cooperate with its evacuation efforts. Thandwe is currently one of the key battlegrounds in the AA’s ongoing offensive against the regime. There are thousands of IDPs in the township, while Taungup has a smaller number of displaced. Already faced with travel restrictions and power cuts, many residents are in danger of starving because they no longer even have wood or charcoal to cook with, according to a rescue worker who asked not to be named. “Junta troops have been clearing the roads, but they haven’t provided any aid to local residents,” she said of the situation in Taungup, which is still under regime control. “There is an urgent need for emergency assistance,” she said, adding that at present, the only aid available is coming from local social welfare organisations.

Flooding across much of Myanmar adds to woes of war-displaced civilians

While the regime has assisted in some areas under its control, most IDPs have been left to fend for themselves

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