Context
Heavy seasonal rains caused flooding in Rakhine State and other parts of the country at the end of June. At the beginning of July, the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) in Nay Pyi Taw reported that close to 14,800 people had been affected by floods throughout the country, with over 13,000 of those affected in Rakhine State. (OCHA, 30 June 2015)
As the situation continued to evolve, on 31 July, the President of the Union of Myanmar issued a statement declaring natural disaster zones in Chin and Rakhine states and in the Sagaing and Magway regions, stating “the following regions which are hugely affected by natural disasters and have challenges for rapid restoration to normality, are announced as natural disaster zones (1) Chin State, (2) Sagaing Region, (3) Magway Region and (4) Rakhine State.” The government indicated that it would accept international assistance.
In response, the authorities, local civil society organizations, international non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) – supported by its International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners – are responding on the ground, with provision of relief and other assistance being scaled up. As the floodwaters continue to flow southwards, there is a growing threat to the Ayeyarwarddy region, which could remain flooded for a relatively longer duration.
The Shelter Cluster in Myanmar is led by UNHCR and has been activated for the past two and a half years. However, given the extensive damage IFRC has been asked, in its capacity as the Global Shelter Cluster lead for natural disasters as well as through discussions in country, to coordinate the Shelter and NFI response at the sub-national level. UNHCR will continue to lead the cluster in Rakhine State and at the national level in Yangon and IFRC will coordinate the flood response in the three most affected areas: Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region. IFRC will coordinate with UNHCR in the same way that it has done previously in Myanmar and continues to do so at the Global level.
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