Oxfam and partners are assessing the devastation caused by
Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State in Myanmar and are already
responding in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
At least eight people were killed and infrastructure extensively
destroyed when the cyclone hit the western Myanmar region on
Sunday. Amongst those affected are thousands of internally
displaced people living in camps in Rakhine state.
Oxfam plans to mount a humanitarian response to provide clean
water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as emergency
cash and food.
Rajan Khosla, Oxfam Country Director in Myanmar, said: “Our
teams in the Rakhine capital, Sittwe, faced the terrifying winds
which damaged homes, toppled trees and disrupted power and
communication lines. The cyclone has devastated the camps for
internally displaced people in Rakhine. We are receiving reports
of the scale of the devastation.”
Even before the cyclone, an estimated six million people were
already in need of humanitarian support in Rakhine, Chin, Magway
and Sagaing, the states where the cyclone hit. The need for
essentials, like shelter, clean water, sanitation, is expected to
rise.
Rajan Khosla said: “The cyclone will immensely impact existing
displaced people and particularly communities in Rakhine and
Chin. More resources are required, and we call on the
international community to provide the funds required to help
them live a life of dignity.”
While the cyclone did not make landfall in Cox’s Bazar in
Bangladesh, the strong winds destroyed temporary bamboo
homes.
Ashish Damle, Oxfam Country Director in Bangladesh, said: “It is
a relief that the cyclone passed without causing loss of life in
the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. But the makeshift
infrastructure in the camps could not withstand the strong winds.
“We distributed cash to communities ahead of the storm and
provided clean water for families to survive the night. Oxfam’s
main relief efforts will focus on our area of expertise:
providing safe water for people as well as sanitation supplies
and public health support to help prevent the spread of
water-borne diseases.”
Oxfam is working closely with local communities, partners and
authorities to ensure coordination of efforts and the safety of
those residing in the camps in Bangladesh.
