The international organization cautioned that without urgent assistance, the country could soon face a severe food crisis as farmers struggle to plant crops in the aftermath of the disaster.
Last month, Cyclone Mocha unleashed its fury upon the western state of Rakhine and neighboring areas, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The cyclone's destructive force claimed numerous lives and inflicted extensive damage upon thousands of homes, exacerbating an already dire situation.
Titon Mitra, a U.N. representative stationed in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, described the scale of devastation as immense. He highlighted the relentless onslaught of strong winds, which twisted telecom towers, shattered concrete poles, and even uprooted century-old trees, leaving behind a landscape in ruins.
The United Nations estimates that a staggering 700,000 homes have been damaged by the cyclone. The combination of torrential rains and storm surges has further wreaked havoc on the vital agricultural and fisheries sectors, amplifying the challenges faced by communities already grappling with the aftermath of the disaster.
Among the hardest-hit are the Rohingya minority, who have been living in overcrowded displacement camps since the violent counterinsurgency campaign conducted by Myanmar security forces in 2017. This vulnerable group finds themselves once again at the epicenter of this latest catastrophe, enduring immense suffering and loss.
In addition to the immediate consequences, the United Nations expressed deep concerns regarding the potential outbreak of waterborne diseases such as dysentery. The contamination of waterways by waste poses a significant health risk, further compounding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the cyclone-affected regions.
The international community is urged to respond swiftly and generously to address the urgent needs of the affected populations. Immediate and sustained aid is crucial to prevent a looming food crisis and mitigate the potential spread of diseases amidst this already dire situation. (ILKHA)