Storm Mocha: Deaths reported as powerful cyclone slams into Bangladesh and Myanmar with winds of up to 130mph
by by Tens of thousands of people living along the coast of Bangladesh and Myanmar are sheltering as the nations are struck by an extremely severe cyclone – known as Storm Mocha – which made landfall on Sunday.
Mocha came ashore in Myanmar’s Rakhine state near Sittwe township with wind speeds of up to 130mph (209kph), according to Myanmar’s Meteorological Department.
However, a densely-populated cluster of refugee camps in low-lying neighbouring Bangladesh were largely spared.
The storm damaged houses, electrical transformers, cell phone towers, boats and lampposts and was tearing the roofs off buildings. The deaths of at least three people have been reported in Myanmar.
More than 1,500 cyclone shelters have been set up in Bangladesh, a country of around 160 million, while more than 10,000 people from villages in Myanmar have been prompted to seek shelter in sturdy buildings such as temples, schools and monasteries.
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Thousands of people living along the western coast of Rakhine state have already been evacuated.
Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, which is home to a million Rohingya refugees, was left relatively unscathed.
“Luckily, we could escape the worst of the cyclone,” said Mohammad Shamsud Douza, a Bangladesh government official in charge of refugees. “We are getting some reports of huts damaged but there are no casualties.”
Areas burdened by conflict, poverty and weak community resilience will be the worst affected by the cyclone, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
“We are preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best,” Sheela Matthew, deputy director of the charity, said.
“Many of the people most likely to be affected are already reliant on regular humanitarian assistance from WFP.
“They simply cannot afford another disaster.”
The WFP said it has enough food to cover the needs of more than 400,000 people in Rakhine state and neighbouring areas for one month.
Whereas, the chairman of the Myittar Yaung Chi charity foundation, said they were still trying to get enough food for the 20 places they have arranged for people to stay in the area of Sittwe.
He said a massive plan has been put in place, which included the training of 100 volunteers on how to alert rescuers using flag warning signals.
The World Health Organisation has also provided 40 ambulances and 33 medical teams are on standby.
Claire Nullis, from the World Meteorological Organisation, told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday that the cyclone is “very dangerous” and is associated with violent winds.
“There will be major impacts both ahead and after landfall for potentially hundreds of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people,” she added.