The recent torrential rain has destroyed about 370 shelters in IDP camps in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U township. The unexpected rain water which became flood water destroyed around 142 shelters at Nyaungchaung IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township, about 200 shelters at Tin Nyo IDP camp and 32 at Myatanzaung displacement camp in Mrauk-U Township. These IDP camps are home to many Rohingyas.
“The shelters are not strong enough to live in. The water fell for three days, so the ground sank and the houses collapsed. Then small bridges leading to the shelters were destroyed. Now that the water has receded, the shelters are being repaired,” said U Than Aye, manager of the Nyaungchaung IDP camp.
It is being reported that almost 6 feet water has rised above the ground level causing flood at the Nyaungchaung IDP camp which is home to 629 households and a population of 2966.
“IDP shelters were tilted and one side of the house wall was damaged. We need timber and bamboo to repair damaged IDP shelters and food supplies,” said Ko Kyaw Myint Chay, an IDP man from Tin Nyo displacement camp.
Mrauk-U’s Tin Nyo IDP camp is home to 783 households and a population of 2,862, and about 200 IDP shelters were damaged by the floods.
“We urgently need food supplies. We have to use cash assistance provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) following the storm to repay our debts. We face various hardships,” said Daw Thar Nu Phyu, an IDP woman from the Tin Nyo IDP camp.
Nearly 7,000 people in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships have reportedly evacuated their homes temporarily due to continuous rains and high tides.
