After Cyclone Mocha made the landfall in many part of northern Rakhine state, freshwater sources such as lakes and ponds became contaminated with saltwater and affecting community across Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponenagyun, Pauk Taw, Kyauk Taw townships, according to our local networks and local news outlets.
Rathedaung township was the first place hit by the cyclone, more than 98% of houses were devastated, and rice, paddy and paddy seeds also got huge damaged in Rathedaung township, Rakhine. Very daily need, water source become salty and dirty, but villagers had choice but to drink boiled water “slightly muddy and salty water”.
After few days, our PIM team went the field and observed the situation of villages and very needy villages. There was not phone network because all phone operator station are collapsed and damaged. Our priority is come out first to help pumping lakes and ponds. Because the rainwater will fill the lake and pond and the villagers will face more water shortage problem if we keep those dirty lake without pumping.
At least 5,000 local residentials across nine villages in Rathedaung township reported salt water contaminating of their water sources as well, (Myanmar Now May 24 2023).
Drinking water ponds from Ran Aung Pyin, Lone Tin, Gwe Pauk Chaung and Net Chaung villagers, Rathedaung township were pumped out with the helps of local villagers and volunteers.
Permaculture Institute Myanmar, we are very grateful for support in this emergency response to the affected community. We tried our best to reach out the response interventions to the needy community in the ground. We assume that this very contributions with helps of our supporters to those cyclone affected people and communities are not covered all affected communities, we still needs your help to ensure their basic needs for their survival.