The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on September 18 that it will significantly expand its flood relief efforts to support those affected by severe flooding in Myanmar. Although the WFP has been providing aid since July, the organization will scale up its response starting this week.
According to the WFP, the recent storm Ragi has triggered heavy rains, floods, and landslides across several regions, including Karen State, Karenni State, Nay Pyi Taw, Bago Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Mon State, and Shan State.
"The impact of this flood on food security is extremely serious. Even before the floods, more than 13 million people in Myanmar were facing food insecurity. Our teams are working in real time to meet this growing demand," said Ms. Sheela Matthew, WFP’s resident representative in Myanmar.
As part of the relief efforts, WFP will distribute rice, fortified biscuits, and other nutritional support, enough to sustain families for a month. The organization is also assessing the flood's impact on crops, livelihoods, and access to food in collaboration with partner organizations.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported that, as of September 16, approximately 631,000 people in Myanmar have been affected by the floods, with hundreds dead or missing. A total of 59 townships across nine states and regions have been impacted by the storm, and many areas remain submerged. Evacuations and emergency assistance efforts are ongoing, according to UNOCHA.
Humanitarian partners have also begun reporting the extent of the damage and are preparing to launch further response operations as the situation unfolds.
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