Gender-Impact Flash Update: Myanmar Flooding No. 1 - 1 October 2024

This update was developed by the Myanmar Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG) and is based on available reports from humanitarian partners, including women-led organizations operating in flood-affected townships. It provides an overview of the gendered impacts of the flooding in Myanmar and the differentiated needs of women, men, girls, and boys.

Overview

Since 9 September 2024, severe flooding and mudslides triggered by torrential monsoon rains and remnants of Typhoon Yagi have devastated 70 townships across 11 states and regions in Myanmar.

An estimated 1 million people have been impacted, with more than 360 fatalities and 100 people reported missing,¹ although data is still being verified. The flooding has affected already marginalized groups, including internally displaced persons, pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and the elderly, for whom the disaster has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. Early assessments suggest women and girls account for approximately 60% of people affected.

The most severely affected areas include the capital Nay Pyi Taw; the regions of Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Sagaing and Tanintharyi; and the states of southern and eastern Shan, Mon, Kayah, Kayin, and Rakhine. As floodwaters recede, communities, including those in camps for internally displaced persons and relocation sites are beginning cleanup efforts.

The floods have submerged thousands of crops, farmlands, and livestock, significantly impacting the livelihoods of affected communities. Critical infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, including roads, bridges, communication networks, schools, public service facilities, religious sites, and farmlands. More than 65,000 homes, 1,500 schools, 200 roads and bridges, and more than 80 telecom towers have been destroyed or damaged. The impacts of the disaster are exacerbating Myanmar’s existing humanitarian crisis, already strained by ongoing conflict, political instability, and widespread food insecurity.