by Francis Khoo Thwe

Floods so far have killed 69 people, displacing another 260,000, but the final figure is expected to get much worse. The situation is critical in Rakhine state, already torn by sectarian violence. For Card Bo, aid is needed right away because of the massive devastation. The Church is playing a leading role in terms of aid and volunteers.

Yangon (AsiaNews) – As Myanmar reels under the weight of devastating floods, "We appeal to all good hearted people to come forward to support our brothers and sisters with emergency food, medical assistance, hygiene kit, bedding a, basic clothing and shelter," said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the first cardinal in the history of Myanmar, in a statement sent to AsiaNews.

In his appeal, titled ‘A wounded region battered by nature's fury awaits compassionate response,’ the prelate spoke on behalf of the suffering people urging “generous friends and benefactors to be Good Samaritans to our doubly wounded brothers and sisters.”

Like the prelate, the country’s religious and political leaders have appealed to the international community for immediate relief for the more than 260,000 people affected by Myanmar’s recent monsoon floods.

At least 69 people have died (41 in the western state of Rakhine alone), but the number is expected to rise in the coming days. Some 1,400 schools have been destroyed or forced to close because of floodwaters. 

Myanmar's call for international aid stands in sharp contrast to stance taken when it was ruled by generals. The junta had refused outside help in the wake of devastating cyclone Nargis in 2008, when 130,000 people perished in the disaster.

Now, as the government leads the relief effort, the military is handling operations on the ground.

Areas northeast of the Rakhine state capital, Sittwe, including Mrauk U and Minbya, were particularly hard hit.

Rakhine is home to around 140,000 displaced people, mainly Rohingya Muslims who live in squalid camps scattered across the state.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland have been inundated by the floods, with the UN warning that this could, "disrupt the planting season and impact long-term food security".

In such a critical emergency situation, Card Bo calls on the international community and Catholics worldwide to provide practical help.

The massive cyclone and rains hit the states of Rakhine, Chin and Sagaing, "leaving many people dead, and thousands homeless and in need of urgent help,” the cardinal said.

These are amongst the poorest areas of the country with 70 per cent poverty rates, torn by sectarian conflict. "Now their agony, he added, is aggravated by the fury of nature."

As the death toll rises, so does the number of homeless, who are without food and other basic needs. This, the archbishop of Yangon noted, is making them increasingly vulnerable to infectious diseases.

"The Catholic Church rushed in with emergency supplies. However, the scale of the devastation is massive." For this reason, “We appeal to all good hearted people to come forward to support our brothers and sisters"”.

With its extended network of 16 Caritas centres and emergency units, the Church "has swung into action and reached the affected,” the cardinal said.

“Three dioceses are reaching out to the victims directly. A task force is being formed for emergency response."

• myanmar
• burma
• devastasting
• floods
• catholic
• church