UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 5 (Cyclone MOCHA): 19 May 2023

Highlights

• Advocacy for humanitarian access to affected populations continues and this remains a critical constraint in assessing the extent of humanitarian needs and in providing lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable populations.

• Incoming reports indicate that across all affected areas, access to safe drinking water is a critical priority due to the damage caused to water supply infrastructure. In Rakhine, at least 32 nutrition infrastructure and nutrition-related spaces are severely damaged. In the Northwest, around 30 schools are reported to be damaged,

• Life-saving nutrition supplies, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), has been provided to 77 children with severe acute malnutrition.

• The UNICEF funding situation is critical: to date the Myanmar 2023 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal for USD 169.6 million is only 11.8 per cent funded.

Situation in Numbers

3.2 million people within the areas impacted by the cyclone are most vulnerable and likely to have humanitarian needs (OCHA)

This includes an estimated: 1.12 million children 0-17 years

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

There is no significant change in the access situation as no Travel Authorisation approvals have been granted in Rakhine State and in the Northwest of the country affected by Cyclone Mocha.

In Rakhine, deaths have been reported, including of children and pregnant women. IDP communities in northern Rakhine state have been relocated to schools as temporary shelters. There is an urgent need for latrines due to the increased number of people relocated. Access to safe drinking water is an urgent priority, along with roofing for shelters, health services and WASH facilities. Mobile medical assistance has been initiated in some central Rakhine State townships, but harder-to-reach villages have yet to receive support. As many as 32 nutrition infrastructure and nutrition- related spaces (including breast-feeding spaces, antenatal support services and treatment centres) are severely damaged. The airport reopened to commercial flights today. The Yangon – Sittwe road has been re-opened to trucks today and passenger buses from Yangon have also resumed.

Many reports indicate damage to WASH infrastructure. The latrine superstructures in Rakhine camps have been substantially damaged and, in several locations, flooding is reported to have rendered the facilities dysfunctional. Similarly, heavy damage to water supply infrastructure has been reported, and the storm surge flooded water supply ponds, making the water saline.

In the Northwest, shelter and water supply are the first priority needs, followed by food security. Electricity has been recovered in most of the urban areas of Sagaing and Chin. Telecommunication remains a major challenge for collecting information. It was reported that 30 schools have been damaged in Chin State.

A total of 21 townships (17 townships in Rakhine State and four townships in Chin State) have been declared as disaster (cyclone) affected areas by the authorities.