By Nway / MPA
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will resume the distribution of food assistance in flood-affected areas of the Ayeyarwady region.
WFP announced on 26 August that the last time they distributed the supplies in Ayeyarwady region was in 2023. An estimated 500,000 people are living in areas exposed to flooding in Ayeyarwady in 2024. So, WFP will provide food assistance for 35,000 flood-affected people in evacuation centers.
“Recent flooding threatens to significantly reduce monsoon rice yields. And, the impacts are likely to be felt not just in Ayeyarwady but more broadly across Myanmar.Thus, WFP is taking swift action to help mitigate potential food shortages,” said Sheela Matthew, WFP Representative in Myanmar.
Moreover, it is reported that the WFP will also provide nutritional support to prevent maternal and child malnutrition, in addition to food assistance.
According to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Action Plan 2024, around 1.5 million people require humanitarian support in Ayeyarwaddy region.
In the announcement, it was mentioned that the WFP provided life-saving supplies to the people affected by floods in Kachin and Karen States, as well as in Sagaing, Magway, Bago, and Mandalay Regions. Additionally, they planned to provide assistance to Rakhine State.
In June 2024, the SAC Army broke into and burned down the WFP’s warehouse in Maungdaw City, Rakhine state.
WFP strongly condemned that action and called on all parties involved in the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect humanitarian aid and assets.
