Diarrhea outbreak reported in many Rakhine villages due to dirty water consumption after Mocha

Many villagers in Rakhine State are reportedly suffering from Diarrhea because of drinking dirty water after cyclone Mocha that destroyed many ponds and wells across the State.

According to  the abbot named Metta Nadi and the public voice agency medical group, more than 10 villages under Kyauk Taw and Ponna Kyunt townships are in urgent need of medicines.

After the cyclonic storm, the medical group sent teams to various villages and found these townships in a bad situation.

“The villagers are using water from newly dug wells. In many villages, they are drinking very unclean water. We encourage them to use water after boiling it. The villagers have little awareness about the use of safe drinking water,” the team added.

Villages like Mi Yet Pyint, Shwe Pyi, Thinganet, Pauk Taw Palong, Kyar Nyo Byint and Goakpi Htaun under Kyauk Taw township and Maw Wra, Pakhut Site and Buddaw villages under Ponna Kyunt township are facing the problem.

“In the village named Maw Wra that I went to, there are about 100 families. They have 130 patients (of various ages including 70 years old) with different diseases. 78 patients are suffering from Diarrhea. Some are however suffering from major ailments,” added the abbot.

In Pakhut Site and Buddaw villages, many residents  are suffering from Diarrhea due to the consumption of dirty water, stated the village administrator.

He also informed that no official from the health department under the military council has visited these villages.

Narinjara News tried to contact the Rakhine public health departmentfor details but in vain.

148 people died because of cyclone Mocha that hit the Rakhine coastal region on 14 May and many natural ponds, wells and dams of drinking reservations were damaged due to entry of saltwater from the sea.

Rathedaung township has not yet reported any such cases even though the residents are using unclean water.

Monk Sandaw Batha from Athet Si Moung village under Mrauk U township informed that there is no report of Diarrhea outbreak in his area even though villagers are deprived of safe drinking water.

The military council announced that drinking water will be made available in Rakhine State and also distribute water purifiers in various Mocha affected Rakhine townships.

However in reality it is not happening. Villagers are still consuming dirty water. In some villages, they have to travel a longer distance every day to collect clean drinking water.