Nearly 100,000 people affected by floods in Kyaukkyi Township, Bago Region, Shan State's Nyaungshwe Township, and Kayah State have received little to no assistance from Myanmar’s military authorities, while aid from civil society organizations remains restricted, according to local sources.
In Kyaukkyi Township, Bago Region, floods have impacted 48,453 residents in 103 villages along the Sittaung River, leaving them in urgent need of assistance. Meanwhile, continuous rainfall since September 11 in Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Township, has caused severe flooding, affecting over 20,000 people as homes were inundated by water from nearby creeks.
In Kayah State, more than 30,000 flood victims from Loikaw, Demoso, Shadaw, Hpasawng, and Hpruso townships, as well as Pekon Township in southern Shan State, have yet to receive aid due to restrictions imposed by the military council. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the chairman of the Military Council, had pledged to rehabilitate the flood-affected areas within six months during a meeting with victims in September. However, local residents report that little effective assistance has been provided, and civil groups attempting to offer aid have been blocked by military authorities.
A resident from Kyaukkyi Township, who wished to remain anonymous, told RFA that military checkpoints have prevented the delivery of aid, including food donations. "The aid didn’t come. The water has receded slightly, but the military is blocking donors from delivering food. People contact us wanting to help, but they are afraid because of military control," the resident explained. He added that there is still over three feet of floodwater, and people are in dire need of food and clean drinking water.
On September 20, the Karen Emergency Assistance and Relief Committee (Mone Township) reported that military forces fired heavy weapons during flood relief efforts, further obstructing aid distribution. In Inle Lake, Shan State, the water level rose more than 20 feet above normal, submerging nearly 2,000 homes. Residents have reported that no aid has been provided for the 20,000 people affected, leaving many struggling to survive, especially daily wage earners.
In Kayah State, humanitarian assistance remains limited due to military restrictions. A war victim at a refugee camp near Pong Creek in Loikaw and Demoso townships said more than 300 refugee shelters were damaged by the floods. "People are asking for tarpaulins to protect themselves from the flooding, along with basic food supplies like rice, noodles, oil, and salt," the refugee explained.
Over 21,739 people in seven townships, including Loikaw, Demoso, Shadaw, Hpasawng, and Hpruso, remain affected by the floods. The Interim Administrative Council of Kareni State reported on September 19 that 28 people had died due to landslides triggered by the floods.
A volunteer told RFA that efforts to deliver aid to Kayah State were blocked by the military’s 530th Light Infantry Battalion, forcing them to turn back. "Any truck carrying food or rice is stopped at the checkpoint, and the goods are unloaded and kept by the military," the volunteer explained.
On September 27, the military council announced that 433 people had been killed, 79 were missing, and 5,604 buildings were destroyed in floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Ragi. At a flood donation ceremony on September 21, Vice Senior General Soe Win said that over 32 billion kyats would be allocated for rehabilitation efforts. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), nearly 900,000 people across 65 townships in Myanmar have been affected by the flooding.
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