Cyclone Mocha: Access and time of the essence to help affected families in Bangladesh and Myanmar

Myanmar Red Cross volunteers rescue a man from flood waters following Cyclone Mocha hitting the country in May 2023.

Myanmar Red Cross volunteers rescue a man from flood waters following Cyclone Mocha hitting the country in May 2023.

Photo: Myanmar Red Cross Society

Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 16 May 2023 - The strongest cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in the last 10 years has affected families already internally displaced in Myanmar and living in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Cyclone Mocha crossed the coast between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu township, near Rakhine’s capital of Sittwe, Myanmar on 14 May with winds estimated as strong as 250 kph, bringing heavy rains, storm surge, flash floods and landslides. In Myanmar, the cyclone has caused significant damages: houses destroyed, electricity lines down, and power and water services disrupted. Resulting storm surges have also knocked out bridges and inundated homes.

To date, based on early reports, around 355 households in Yangon, Magway and Ayeyarwaddy Region are reported affected, while initial reports from Chin State also highlight damages, and more than 130,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Widespread devastation has been reported in Rakhine State, impacting public and private infrastructure, destroying homes and livelihoods.  

While reports from the field continue to come in, and rapid assessments are carried out, needs are expected to be high and affected people will require immediate relief items, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene needs, emergency healthcare and psychosocial support.  Families who have been separated will need to be reconnected. The potential for communicable disease outbreaks is high, while landmines and other explosive remnants of war pose further risks as flooding and landslides can carry the devices to locations previously deemed safe.

More than 800 Red Cross volunteers and staff have responded around the country and emergency response teams have also been deployed.  Pre-positioned relief stock items are being sent to the Myanmar Red Cross hub in Rakhine to cover 2,000 households. IFRC and its members are supporting the Myanmar Red Cross Society in scaling up disaster response measures to support affected communities along Cyclone Mocha’s path, as well as those affected by storm surges all along the country's extensive coastline.

Nadia Khoury, IFRC Head of Delegation in Myanmar said:

“The potential scale of the devastation is overwhelming, covering a huge area of the country. Hundreds of thousands of people will have been left in a highly vulnerable situation, just as the monsoon season is due to start. We are working with the Myanmar Red Cross, our partners in-country and the International Committee of Red Cross regarding areas that need access and resource mobilisation for a coordinated response, providing strategic, operational, financial, technical, and other support.  With its presence in every affected township through its branches and volunteers, the Myanmar Red Cross will be providing multi-sectoral assistance to seek to best meet the needs of affected populations."

Access in Rakhine and the Northwest remains heavily restricted, while the level of damage in rural and other hard-to-reach areas, especially camps for internally displaced people, is still unknown due to the interruption of phone and internet lines.

In Bangladesh, while the cyclone caused massive destruction on Saint Martin Island and the adjacent coastal area of Cox’s Bazar, it was less impactful than anticipated. While assessments are ongoing, it has been reported so far that nearly 3,000 households are affected and 10,000 households partially damaged.

More than 8,000 Red Crescent volunteers were deployed to support the affected community in Bangladesh before Cyclone Mocha made landfall and 76,000 Cyclone Preparedness Programme volunteers were prepared in coastal areas for any complex situation. Volunteers are currently on the ground in affected areas, rescuing people, providing emergency relief items, medical support, safe drinking water and other support.

Sanjeev Kafley, IFRC Head of Delegation in Bangladesh, said:

“The IFRC and its wide network have been supporting Bangladesh Red Crescent in its rescue and relief activities, working closely with the national society to ensure that the people affected by Cyclone Mocha receive the necessary assistance. Our teams are on the ground in affected Cox’s Bazar camps and other coastal areas and assessing the evolving situation.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal focusing on relief provisions and early recovery assistance in Myanmar's hardest-hit areas of 7,500 most vulnerable households (37,500 people) particularly in Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Ayeryawaddy, and Sagaing.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

[email protected]

In Kuala Lumpur:

Afrhill Rances, +60192713641

In Geneva:

  • Anna Tuson, +41 79 895 6924
  • Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 4367

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