September 17, 2024

The military junta has reportedly been blocking relief efforts aimed at delivering food and essential supplies to flood-affected villages on the eastern side of the Sittaung River in Yedashe Township, Bago Region, making rescue operations difficult, according to local sources.

At least six villages in Yedashe Township are currently submerged due to flooding from the Sittaung River. Over a thousand residents from these villages have already relocated to the town, but more than 2,000 villagers remain stranded, according to local residents.

Relief organizations have reported that the junta is restricting aid deliveries to the eastern side of the Sittaung River, citing the presence of People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in the area. As a result, villagers have been forced to travel to the Sittaung Bridge to collect supplies, relief workers said.

The floods, exacerbated by the remnants of Cyclone Mocha, have affected 56 townships across the country, leading to the deaths of 226 people and leaving 77 missing as of the evening of September 16, according to a junta statement.

Rescue workers have expressed concern that the actual number of deaths and missing people may be higher, particularly in areas controlled by resistance forces where aid cannot reach.