Burmese junta seeks foreign aid amid deadly floods

The floods caused landslides and destroyed power plants, buildings, roads, bridges and homes.

It is a rare move, explained by an exceptional situation. After devastating floods in Burma, which left at least 33 dead and forced more than 235,000 people to leave their homes, the junta leader has asked for help from the international community. “Government officials should contact foreign countries to receive relief and assistance for the victims,” Min Aung Hlaing said on Friday, September 13, according to the newspaper. Global New Light of Myanmar.

This disaster, which occurred during the passage of Typhoon Yagi, further aggravates the misery in this country which has plunged into a humanitarian, security and political crisis since the February 2021 coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

State media reported that flooding in the region and around the capital Naypyidaw had caused landslides and destroyed power plants, buildings, roads, bridges and homes.

In Myanmar, the junta has in the past blocked international aid or thwarted foreign assistance programs. In mid-June 2023, it suspended travel permits for aid groups trying to help about a million victims of Cyclone Mocha in western Myanmar. The United Nations had denounced the decision “incomprehensible”.

Already in 2008, when Cyclone Nargis killed at least 138,000 people in the country, the then junta was accused of blocking emergency aid and initially refusing to let in aid workers and supplies.

Northern Vietnam, Laos and Thailand were also hit hard by flooding and landslides after Yagi dumped torrential rains when it hit the region last weekend. Nearly 300 people died, including 233 in Vietnam, where many more are still missing and could add to the toll.