Nearly one million affected by floods, death toll rises

10 August 2015
Nearly one million affected by floods, death toll rises
Flood in Pwint Phyu Township, Magway Region on August 5, 2015. Photo: Bo Bo/Mizzima

The number of people affected by flooding across Myanmar was approaching 1 million on Sunday, with waters in the low-lying southwestern delta inundating homes and forcing villagers into temporary shelters, the government said. The death toll was on the verge of topping 100, AP reported on 9 August.
In some places, only the roofs of homes could be seen. International aid is on the way following appeals by the government, but so far, most of the help has come from volunteers ferrying noodles, rice, and clean water door-to-door in small boats.
The death toll reached 99 on Sunday and more than 900,000 people have been affected — a third of them in the Irrawaddy Delta, said Phyu Lei Lei Tun, director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
The United Nations pledged $9 million in assistance this past week, but so far, most help has come from private citizens and non-governmental organizations.