By Sayar Ngaat / MPA
The military council’s aggressive attitude towards civil society organizations has hindered the reconstruction process of flood victims, according to reports from social welfare groups.
The military council has imposed restrictions rather than assisting civil organizations that have been providing recovery efforts in Kalaw Township, Southern Shan State where flooding was severe in September 2024. These restrictions have led to significant challenges, according to humanitarian workers involved in flood relief.
“There has been no official research, protection, or restoration plan. These plans should be implemented with large-scale technical coordination between the government and international agencies. But, in the current political situation, nothing can be done without the military’s approval. The military council has been aggressive towards many organizations, leading to a real challenge in making recovery plans effective and smooth,” a 40-year-old flood relief worker assisting in Shan State explained.
Currently, cleaning up debris and repairing homes are being done in the flood-affected areas. However, as these areas are prone to heavy rainfalls, the risk of flooding remains, according to the source.
Additionally, the junta’s lack of preparedness for flood relief and recovery measures along with discrepancies in death tolls and damage reports have further caused frustration among the flood-affected civilians, as one of the relief workers noted.
“The military council reported only a limited number of deaths due to the floods, but on the ground, death tolls are more than that, as we can communicate and ask within each group. These inconsistencies add to the suffering of those affected,” a humanitarian worker said.
More than 170 out of 445 villages were submerged In the flood-hit Inle Lake area, with the current recovery process in need of assistance, according to A Yon Oo Charity – AYOC.
“Financial aid is desperately needed. We’re currently collecting donations to provide assistance. Our first priority is bamboo houses which were destroyed by the floods,” a representative from A Yon Oo Charity said.
Currently, the construction of a bamboo stilt house costs around 2 million kyats in the Inle area, the source added.
The impact of Typhoon Ragi had triggered continuous rainfall across Myanmar since late September, flooding 56 townships in Naypyidaw, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Karenni, Karen, Mon, and Shan Regions and resulting in 419 deaths with over 140,000 displaced, according to the report of the Junta on September 24.
Furthermore, the junta’s reports state that nearly 900,000 acres of farmland were also damaged, and more than 128,000 livestock died due to Typhoon Ragi.
Following the damages and losses, junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated on September 18 that efforts would be made to resume agricultural activities, focusing on fully replanting summer crops and supplementing the damaged crops in the rainy season.
Among the floods that occurred in Myanmar, the flood in July 2015 was the most severe. Despite the widespread flooding, affecting 12 out of the 14 states and regions, the death toll due to the disaster was slightly over 100.
This recent flooding is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
Although flooding in Myanmar typically occurs during the rainy season, which spans from June to October, with the highest frequency in July and August, severe floods have recently occurred in September.