Monsoon Rains Displace Tens Of Thousands In Myanmar

July 28, 2018 Cap Allon

Floodwaters have displaced tens of thousands of people in southeast Myanmar, authorities and volunteers scramble to provide food and aid to the victims.

Heavy monsoon rains have pounded Karen state, Mon state and Bago region in recent days and show no sign of abating, raising fears that the worst might be yet to come.

The summer monsoon has brought record-breaking rain across most of Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Japan.

According to the Myanmar Times, residents of the state capital Hpa-an say that while each year there is flooding, this time things are much worse.

More than 10,000 residents from Hpa-an alone had to leave their homes.

BREAKING: Floods which have been taking place since yesterday are displacing hundreds of villagers in Bago Region. Photos: Kaung Htet/ The Myanmar Times pic.twitter.com/zD9zypcXOJ

— The Myanmar Times (@TheMyanmarTimes) July 28, 2018

Floods sack thousands from homes in Myanmar https://t.co/5MpSGBdr1H pic.twitter.com/WPwbDhp2sM

— NAIJA RED PEN (@NAIJAREDPEN) July 28, 2018

Vast swathes of land are submerged while temporary camps have been set up around the city.

Starvation and waterborne diseases are now major concerns.

New post (Rohingyas face starvation, waterborne diseases as monsoon floods hit refugee camps) has been published on MYANMAR CRIME NEWS – https://t.co/xnmXquXOzI pic.twitter.com/4zAElW9T1K

— Myanmarcrimes (@myanmarcrimes) July 27, 2018

Monsoon floods have hit Myanmar. Our Red Cross colleagues are helping bring people to dry ground and giving out hygiene, kitchen, and shelter gear, and dignity kits with sanitary pads. https://t.co/Qn9F2b9BWW pic.twitter.com/vk5diQyMbd

— IFRC Asia Pacific (@IFRCAsiaPacific) July 28, 2018

The extreme flooding comes just days after a burst dam in Laos flooded several villages resulting in hundreds missing, feared dead.