Rakhine community in Bangladesh donates Kyats 100 million to Mocha affected families

The Rakhine community in Bangladesh has donated more than Kyats 100 million (MMK 131,404,560) for the affected families by cyclone Mocha that hit Rakhine State on 14 May.

The funds were donated through the Mocha cyclone emergency relief and resettlement committee formed by the ULA/AA.

The donations were collected from the Buddhist monks and Rakhine people living in in Bangladesh.

"On behalf of the Mocha affected people of Arakan we would like to thank everyone for the support,” said a statement, signed and released by Dr Nyo Tun Aung, chairman of the emergency relief & resettlement committee.

Majority of Rakhine people live in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts of south Bangladesh. Some families now live in other Bangladesh localities. Their population should be a few hundred thousand.

Due to the cyclonic storm, 146 people died, 216,681 houses including 1,507 religious buildings, 971 schools, 252 hospitals/clinics etc were destroyed and  more than one million residents were severely affected. The cattle and buffaloes numbering 15,388 were also killed.

According to a report released by ULA/AA the total damage because of the natural disaster is estimated to be half a billion dollars.

Even after a month of the storm, the affected people are still in need of food, drinking water, medicine and shelters. Most of the people looking for relief items hail from Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponna Kyunt,
Kyauk Taw, Mrauk U and Pauk Taw townships.

Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Asean countries have donated several tons of relief items through the military council, but those have not yet reached the affected people even today.

Shockingly, the military council has restricted the access of international organizations including the UN along with local aid organizations since 8 June to make the suffering more for the poor Rakhine families.