Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and allied anti-regime groups have urged the United Nations and international community to provide humanitarian aid to Typhoon Yagi victims.
Asia’s most powerful storm this year and the subsequent floods and landslides have left at least 1,000 civilians dead and missing in Mandalay and Bago regions and Shan and Karenni states and affected around 700,000 people, according to the NUG’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party and Chin National Front.
Houses, roads, bridges, critical infrastructure, farmland and livestock have been lost in the floods, their joint statement said on Tuesday.
They called on the UN, European Union, ASEAN and international organizations to help civilians bear the double burden of natural and manmade disasters amid ongoing conflict.
The statement called for the monitoring of aid distribution to avoid it falling into junta hands.
Dr Win Myat Aye, the NUG’s humanitarian aid minister, told The Irrawaddy: “We estimate that the casualty and missing civilian number will be over 1,000. In Thabyaybin village alone in Yamethin Township, Mandalay Region, the deaths and missing figure is over 800.”
His statement said the NUG ministry and its armed allies are working to help flood victims and provide relief and emergency assistance.
Considerable help will be needed to restore healthcare, water and environmental sanitation and rebuild homes and other buildings, the statement said.
The statement praised the social organizations and volunteers who are working on the relief efforts.
Win Myat Aye warned of more storms this month and asked residents to watch the weather forecast.
“Karenni, Karen and Mon residents should be aware of the threat of more storms and the risk of landslides and erosion,” Dr Win Myat Aye said.
On Monday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that there could be more than 631,000 victims of the floods in Myanmar.
The regime on Monday night reported 226 dead and 77 missing in the flooding.
