According to a UN report of 30 July, as many as 120,000 people have been displaced by flooding and landslides in Myanmar over recent weeks.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) report said that heavy monsoon rains since 09 July have resulted in floods in a number of states and regions in Myanmar.
At least eleven people have died and more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the floods, according to the Government’s Department of Disaster Management.
Bago Region is the worst affected, where 71,898 people have evacuated their homes. Other affected areas include Kayin (Karen) State (25,083 displaced), Mon State (18,421) and Tanintharyi Region (6,583). Six fatalities were reported in Mon State and five in Tanintharyi Region.
Displaced people are sheltering in 288 evacuation sites or are staying with relatives and host families. UNOCHA said that the Government of Myanmar is leading the response, in cooperation with state/regional authorities and with the support of national and international humanitarian organizations.
Rainfall and Rivers
According to the Myanmar government, rivers exceeded flood stage in at least 4 locations from 28 July, although rivers have since shown signs of falling.
The Shwegyin River in Shwegyin, Bago Region reached 8.8 metres on 28 July (flood stage is 7 metres). On the same day, the Bago River in Bago, Bago Region reached 9.7 metres (flood stage is 8.8 metres).
The following day the Sittoung River in Madauk, Bago Region, reached 12.70 metres, well over flood stage of 10.70 metres. The Sittoung River in Taungoo, Bago Region reached 6.2 metres, just above flood stage of 6 metres.
Myanmar’s Department Of Meteorology And Hydrology said that Zaung Tu in Bago Region, recorded record rainfall on 25 July, with 198 mm falling in 24 hours, beating the previous high of 144 mm set in July 2007.
Several areas recorded significant rainfall levels over the following days including Yay in Mon State which saw 143 mm of rain in 24 hours to 29 July, and Dawei in Tanintharyi Region which recorded 151mm of rain in 24 hours to 31 July.
