The death toll continues to climb in Myanmar following the flooding and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi earlier this month. State-run media says at least 293 people have been killed and 89 are unaccounted for.
More than 168,000 houses have been flooded in areas including the capital of Naypyitaw. Government buildings and schools have also been affected. Many roads and bridges are damaged and lines of communication are cut off in some areas, making it difficult to grasp the extent of the damage.
The World Food Programme says it plans to provide a month’s worth of emergency food supplies to up to half a million people affected by the floods.
Head of Programme for WFP Myanmar, Samuel Clendon, talked to NHK about the situation. He said, “The recent flooding compounds existing shocks, and we have serious concerns about the impact on the food security status of vulnerable people in Myanmar.”
The WFP assesses that one in four people in Myanmar is already food insecure. The organization says it will continue to prioritize life-saving support for those in need.