Cyclone Mocha was the strongest cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in the last 10 years. Braving winds as strong as 250 km/h, Burma suffered heavy rains, storm surges, flash floods, and landslides.

CycloneMocha was the strongest cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in the last 10 years. Braving winds as strong as 250 km/h, Burma suffered heavy rains, storm surges, flash floods, and landslides.

This cyclone was especially difficult for the Rohingya community to face as many of them were living in make-shift Internally Displaced Persons camps. Wai Wai Nu, a human rights advocate and founder of Women’s Peace Network, tweeted “CycloneMocha may embolden Myanmar junta to use the disaster to expand its brutal control."

This proved true when the junta blocked any humanitarian aid or access from reaching western Rakhine state, where more than a million vulnerable people, are in need of severe aid. 

The victims find it hard to sustain themselves as their homes have been wrecked, their farms have flooded, their livestock killed, and their drinking water contaminated after Cyclone Mocha. Furthermore, the winds destroyed places of access such as bridges, boats, roads, communication lines, and hospitals.

In our personal outreach, we were able to record the loss of 586 homes from the Buthidaung township alone. Villages of Abu Ywa, Htiek Tu Pauk, San Thay Pyin, Rechan Pyin, Go Zil La Ywa, Kine Da Ywa, and Say Oe Zya reported a loss of homes, livelihoods, and cattle such as cows/goats. During our discussion, respondents reported deaths of over 10 children, possibly more, in the township alone due to the cyclone. 

Sources: In-person outreach, Al Jazeera, CNN, and IFRC.