Rakhine State is currently grappling with the aftermath ofCyclone Mocha, leaving over 1.1 million people devastated and in dire need offood assistance and support to rebuild their homes. The coup-regime has impededthe efforts of donors and organizations willing to provide aid, bysystematically implementing blockades on humanitarian aid .

According to the Rakhine State government under the MilitaryCouncil, Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall to coastal areas of Rakhine Stateon May 14th, claimed the lives of 148 individuals and affected a staggering1.15 million people, causing significant damage estimated at 4898.6 millionkyats.

Locals of Rakhine State express their deep disappointment overthe lack of assistance provided by the Military Council to the individualsseverely impacted by the cyclone.

A resident of Thekon village, which was flattened by thecyclone, located in Pauktaw Township, said.“Currently, we are mainly dependenton the support of individual donors. Their donated provisions sustain us. Andwe sheltered in makeshift tents crafted from aged tarpaulins. The government(Military Council) offers no assistance in rebuilding our homes or ensuringfood security”.

The Military Council has not only hindered assistance to thoseaffected by the cyclone but also prevented NGOs and international organizationslike the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from extending theirsupport. Even worse, they have disrupted the efforts of humanitarian aidworkers engaged in rescue operations within the storm-affected regions.

A Rakhine aid workers person told Narinjara,” Right now, we'redoing all we can to help out since the international organizations cannotreally step in effectively. It's mostly our local social aid groups putting inthe extra effort.But things have gotten rough lately.

Sayar Wai Hin Aung and his crew got nabbed by the MilitaryCouncil, and that has got

us aid workers worried. They're  basically saying that ifwe keep going with our rescue missions, we could end up behind bars too. It'sjust crazy to be making arrests when the whole Rakhine State is dealing with adisaster”, a Rakhine aid person told Narinjara.

Based on the latest updates, Thailand has generouslycontributed 20 tons of essential relief items, including temporary tents,mosquito nets, and instant noodles, to assist the cyclone-affected individualsin Rakhine State. Similarly India has extended its support

by donating 25 tons of vital supplies, such as tents, fishcans, tarpaulin sheets, nutritional cookies, and medicine handed over to theMilitary Council. The ASEAN countries have also collectively provided acommendable donation of over 60,000 dollars' worth of assistance to theMilitary Council.

Aid organizations say that based on the use of food aid as aweapon of war ,most of this aid will never reached the hands and mouths of themost needed and desperate among the many victims of the cyclone.