WFP Warns Of Food Scarcity Hitting Millions As Monsoon Looms In Myanmar
By Vijian Paramasivam
PHNOM PENH, May 25 (Bernama) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that about one million people in earthquake-hit areas in Myanmar urgently need aid — foodstuff, medicine, and shelter — as the ferocious monsoon rains loom over the Southeast Asian nation.
Weather-triggered disasters are expected to further compound the misery of 3.5 million displaced people already mired in food scarcity and lack of decent shelters since the March 28 earthquake that wrecked parts of the country.
'It is still quite difficult. It has been seven weeks and the challenge is when humanitarian needs are much higher and the funding is on a downward trajectory.
'We estimated roughly one million people would immediately need assistance, at least food security assistance,' WFP Emergency Coordinator and Team Leader in Mandalay Sudip Joshi told Bernama, from one of the epicentres that was badly ruined by the natural disaster.
The other epicentre of the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake is Sagaing. Almost 3,800 people lost their lives in the tragedy.
The tropical monsoon is expected to begin in May, with June and July facing a treacherous rainy season. The tropical monsoon ebbs away in October before unleashing torrents of flash floods, landslides, lightning strikes, and heavy rainfall.
ReliefWeb last week said Myanmar is a very high-risk country for hazards and exposure to humanitarian crises and disasters, ranking 11 out of 191 countries on the INFORM Risk Management Index.
Donor-fatigue, prolonged civil war between the military and ethnic armed groups, damaged infrastructure, and weather threats will trigger widespread hardship for the displaced people, said aid workers.
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