Cyclone Mocha Recovery Period Ends, Says Rakhine State Chief Minister

Rakhine State Chief Minister U Htein Lin has announced that the initial phase of recovery in Rakhine State following Cyclone Mocha has concluded. However, there are still numerous needs that must be addressed for the individuals affected by the storm.

Chief Minister U Htein Lin made this statement during a planning meeting for cyclone Mocha damage recovery, held at the State Military Council office and attended by state-level government officials on September 20.

"Recovery efforts should be divided into distinct phases, including the immediate, short-term, and long-term. The immediate phase has already concluded, and now we need to focus on short-term and long-term plans, taking into consideration seasonal crops. In the short term, we should prioritize activities such as agriculture, livestock, and the production of poultry, pork, and goat meat, which yield immediate benefits. Additionally, we must include the cultivation of vegetables with a growth cycle of two to three months," he emphasized.

It has now been over 5 months since Cyclone Mocha struck, and residents have expressed that due to the lack of effective assistance from the Military Council and international organizations, many of the Rakhine people affected by the storm continue to live without adequate shelter.

"Some of them have managed to build houses. If they don't build, they have no place to live. They had to sell whatever they could to construct shelters. However, some are still unable to build houses. In certain villages, even monasteries haven't been rebuilt," shared a resident from Mrauk-U.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also stressed the importance of ensuring that the recovery efforts following Cyclone Mocha result in an improved condition compared to the original state of the affected areas.

A social activist from Sittwe Township noted that the Military Council is primarily concentrating its recovery efforts in major townships, with little action being taken in rural areas.

"We've noticed that the Military Council is giving considerable attention to Sittwe Township. They are concentrating their efforts on the rebuilding of hospitals and schools. However, in the rural areas of the state, there has been a lack of progress in the reconstruction of hospitals and schools. Consequently, many people in rural areas are still without proper shelter," the activist remarked.

The Cyclone Mocha Emergency Rescue and Rehabilitation Committee for Arakan (Cyclone Mocha ERRCA), established by the United League of Arakan (ULA), issued a statement on July 14.

According to the statement, only 75 percent of the individuals affected by Cyclone Mocha have been able to secure shelter. The committee is making ongoing efforts to expedite shelter arrangements for those who are still in need.

On May 19, State Military Council spokesman U Hla Thein shared on his social media page that Cyclone Mocha had caused significant damage in Rakhine State, resulting in 136 fatalities, 62 injuries, damage to 716 vehicles, destruction of 241,071 buildings, and the loss of 27,616 animals.

On September 8, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also confirmed that the Cyclone Mocha response transportation and distribution plans in Rakhine State had received approval, and some relief materials had been distributed. However, it was emphasized that the humanitarian needs of the residents affected by the storm remained substantial, and additional aid was required.

Cyclone Mocha, which struck on May 14, inflicted severe damage on Sittwe, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw townships, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes, government buildings, and religious structures.