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CAFOD
World News

"Long way to go" before Myanmar recovers from flood, says Christian charity

by Aaron James

The floods have affected more than one million people in Myanmar, also known as Burma, with that number set to raise as water begins draining from the land to the sea.

The severe weather has also destroyed 1.2 million acres of rice fields and forced 4 of Myanmar's 14 provinces to declare a state of emergency. Only two of the country's 14 provinces are unaffected by the flooding.

The United Nations has already pledged £5.7m in aid for the country, and has said it will cost more than £30m to repair the damage.

Cassandra Mok is CAFOD's Cambodia and Myanmar representative.

Speaking from Cambodia, which is close to Myanmar, she told Premier's News Hour: "One of the biggest areas we're concerned about is water, and clean water. With all the flooding, water sources are being contaminated. There's been some clothing appeals and food appeals.

"The UN estimates that this emergency will probably cost about $47 million. It's a long way - we've got a long way to go.

"It is probably going to get a lot worse. [Listeners can be] praying that the tropical storms don't get any worse, that the dams in Myanmar hold out; I think there's a concern that some of the dams are going to overflow.

"The rain in the flooded areas also have to drain towards the sea, and that's going to create more communities that are going to be affected by this flood before it's over."

Listen to Premier's Antony Bushfield speaking to Cassandra Mok here:

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