Monday, August 14, 2017

#Myanmar (Burma) - Over 200,000 people displaced by floods

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Over 200,000 people were displaced in floods brought about by monsoon rains in various parts of the country, the rescue and resettlement department said Thursday.

The agency said that from July 1 to August 10, a total of 208,450 people from 51,774 households have fled their homes due to floods.

Among the areas badly hit by flood were parts Sagaing Region, Magwe Region, Chin State, Bago Region, Kayin State, Ayeyarwady Region, Mon State, Nay Pyi Taw, Rakhine State, Shan State and Tanintharyi Region.

Rescue camps in Sagaing Region, Magwe Region, Kayin State, Nay Pyi Taw, Rakhine State, Yangon Region and Tanintharyi Region were closed on Aug 10, but some 69,697 evacuees remained in the camps as of August 10.

Dr. Kyaw Moe Oo, meteorology and hydrology department deputy director, warned people – especially those living near river banks – to be always especially when there is heavy rains.
“If river level rises again and it rains more, there will be floods again. But it cannot be as bad as in 2015,” he said, adding that rain is normal this year.

“In 2015 but monsoon was strong and there were storms. Therefore, conditions were worse. Currently, depressions are mainly formed in the internal areas of India and Bangladesh,” he said.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said that at this time the Chindwin river level can rise again and it can reach up to danger level mark in Hkamti and Homalin and there might be more rains in upper Sagaing Region, Kachin State and Rakhine State within next two days.

Source - mmtimes