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Myanmar's Military Chief Requests Foreign Aid Amid Deadly Floods Displacing Thousands
Myanmar’s military chief seeks international aid as Typhoon Yagi floods displace 235,000 and kill 33, amid ongoing civil conflict.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-14
Myanmar's Military Chief Requests Foreign Aid Amid Deadly Floods Displacing Thousands

Myanmar’s military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has called for international assistance to manage the devastating floods caused by Typhoon Yagi. The floods have led to significant loss of life and displacement, with at least 33 people reported dead and more than 235,000 forced from their homes.

 

Typhoon Yagi, one of the deadliest storms to strike Asia this year, has wreaked havoc across the region. The Myanmar government has reported extensive damage, including swamped buildings and stranded residents. Images circulating on social media show people being rescued from rooftops and transported via boats through flooded streets.

 

The death toll from Yagi is reportedly higher than official figures, with Myanmar Now, an independent news outlet, citing a death toll of 66. The storm has also affected neighboring countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines, where it has claimed at least 300 lives.

 

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Officials from the government need to contact foreign countries to receive rescue and relief aid to be provided to the victims.” This call for external support comes as Myanmar's military has historically impeded humanitarian efforts from abroad.

 

The floods have exacerbated the already dire conditions in Myanmar, where a civil war has been ongoing since the military coup in February 2021. The country is embroiled in conflict with various resistance groups and ethnic minority armies, amid a severe economic crisis worsened by the natural disaster.

 

Reports indicate that some areas remain inaccessible, with communication lost in parts of the country and investigations ongoing into landslides in Mandalay’s gold-mining regions. At least 3,600 people have been rescued so far.

 

The crisis comes on the heels of the military government’s previous suspension of travel authorizations for aid groups following Cyclone Mocha last year. The United Nations criticized the decision as “unfathomable,” highlighting ongoing challenges faced by humanitarian agencies in providing assistance due to security risks.

 

The international community’s response will be closely watched as Myanmar seeks to address both the immediate needs of its displaced population and the long-term implications of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Tagged:

HumanitarianAid

MyanmarCrisis

TyphoonYagi

MyanmarFloods

CrisisResponse
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