Cyclone Mocha: Rakhine State faces water and food shortages

Cyclone Mocha hit Rakhine State is facing the scarcity of drinking water and food, but no aid arrives in the storm-affected districts,towns and villages.

The cyclonic storm hit the Rakhine coast and proceeded to disturb regular living after destroying 90% of the buildings in Rakhine state.

Now the entire devastated State is expecting for relief to feed its people who are rendered homeless due to the disaster.

Most of the ponds and wells in Rakhine State are now filled with salty sea water, which cannot be consumed. Moreover, the electric supply had gone out of order as the storm root out many poles and wires in various localities.

The locals informed Narinjara News over the telephone that their lives have come to a halt as they are unable to fetch necessary items from the neighboring towns, particularly Sittwe, due to the restriction on air and waterways.

Arakan Army chief of the staff, major general Tun Myat Naing recently delivered a video speech where he urged the non-governmental organizations and international community to support the cyclone affected people in collaboration with ULA and AA.

"I would like to make a special request for the region's NGOs and INGOs to work closely with the Araksha People's Government while providing necessary assistance to the affected Arakanese people,” said general Naing.

The Arakan humanitarian & development coordination office (HDCO) has empowered to work with various humanitarian organizations for the benefit of Rakhine people, he added.

A UN OCHA assessment estimates that over 5.4 million people were in the path of the cyclone throughout Rakhine and the Northwest. Early estimates indicate that approximately 3.2 million are the most vulnerable and are likely to require humanitarian assistance.