The Rakhine community in Bangladesh has donated more than Kyats100 million (MMK131,404,560) for the affected families by cyclone Mocha that hitRakhine State on 14 May.

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

The donations were collectedfrom 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 astatement, signed and released byDr 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 nowlive 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 destroyedand  more than one million residents were severely affected. The cattle and buffaloes numbering15,388 were also killed.

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

Even after a month of the storm, the affected people are still in need of food, drinking water, medicine andshelters. Most of the people lookingfor 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 militarycouncil, but those have not yet reachedthe affected people even today.

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