(Myanmar, 23 May 2023)- The humanitarian community in Myanmar has launched a $333 million Flash Appeal to assist 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha that devastated the country’s west on 14 May.

“This perfect storm has devastated coastal areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable people without a roof over their heads as the monsoon looms,” Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Myanmar, Ramanathan Balakrishnan said. “We are now in a race against time to provide people with safe shelter in all affected communities and prevent the spread of water-borne disease. For this life-saving work, we need the generous financial support of the international community.”

The Flash Appeal requests an urgent injection of funds for activities to support vulnerable people in the highest impact zone across Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing and Kachin.

“This is a humanitarian catastrophe in one of country’s poorest areas, where there are high pre-existing needs, and we need donors to dig deep to support scaled-up distributions to the most vulnerable ahead of the rains,” the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. said.

The Flash Appeal includes a combination of $211 million in prioritized activities from the 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan that are being pivoted to support the cyclone response in affected areas, plus $122 million for additional activities or support to people newly affected by this disaster. The 1.6 million people identified for support under this appeal include those who have lost their homes, people who lack access to health services and clean water, people who are food insecure or malnourished, displaced people living in camps, stateless people, women, children and people with a disability.

Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha crossed the coast in Rakhine State just over a week ago, before moving inland bringing flooding, landslides and strong winds. The cyclone recorded wind speeds of more than 250kmph as it approached the Rakhine coast, making it one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the country.

“In the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, almost no house was spared damage and displacement camps in the path of the cyclone have been left in splinters. Those affected are facing a long, miserable monsoon season if we cannot mobilize resources to deliver life-saving supplies,” Mr Balakrishnan said.

Myanmar Flash Appeal: https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-mocha-flash-appeal-may-2023

Images, video and other background materials: Press handout from the UN in Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha

For further information, please contact:

Danielle Parry, Officer in Charge, [email protected], +95 9797002713 (Phone/Signal)
Suhad Sakalla, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, [email protected], +95 9797007815, +972 054433 4202 (Signal/WhatsApp)
Lesly Lotha, Communication Specialist, [email protected], +959 796139223 (Phone/Signal)
For more information, please visit www.unocha.org | https://reliefweb.int/country/mmr | https://www.facebook.com/OCHAMyanmar

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