More than 400 Rohingya in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp in Sittwe have died and hundreds are missing due to Cyclone Mocha that hit on 14 May.
The bodies have been buried immediately this morning. Children and elderly were reported to have died, according to the AEN report.
Residents of the refugee camp said that the death toll could be higher and that the bodies of the dead are being buried and the search for the missing continues.
It has initially been known that most of the dead were from refugee camps and villages close to the sea.
A resident of the IDP camp said, “Before Mocha hit, we asked the military council for permission to be evacuated to a safer place. But the military did not allow us to do so by saying there was no permission from higher authorities. Eventually Mocha hit, flooding occurred and the area was destroyed. There are earthquakes all around. We could not do anything to save our helpless brothers and sisters. The system of military council is responsible for the loss of our nearest and dearest.”
The Rakhine Army AA issued a request to help the people with food and other emergency aid as soon as possible.
Cyclone affected people in Rakhine state are facing dire needs of food, medicine, and communication.
On May 14th, Cyclone Mocha, which hit the Rakhine coast near Sittwe and swept through all the towns in Rakhine State, caused massive damage, with 90% of Sittwe in Rakhine State and 100% of Rathedaung.
