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The flood disaster in Myanmar since June has brought the death toll nationwide to 88 and affected more than 330,000 people across the nation, prompting a state of emergency for urgent relief efforts.
According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, most of the death were reported in western Rakhine state with at least 55 deaths there.
The deadly flood also killed 4,650 cattle, displaced 85,400 people and destroyed 10,956 homes and more than 88,120 hectares of farmland.
Specifically, 8 people perished in flood in Mandalay, followed by Sagaing region with 7 and Shan state with 6, while the death toll in Chin state, caused by landslide out of torrential rain, had reached 4.
In its latest development, flooding has begun to move southwards and it is likely to expand and affect the southern part of the country.
Hinthada and Nyaungdon areas in southwestern Ayeyawaddy region are being threatened as the Ngawun and Ayeyawaddy River had exceeded their designated danger level.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has announced that all dams across the country will continue to be under watch, confirming that none had broken.
However, 41 dams were releasing excess water through their spillways while 21 had not exceeded their capacity.
Myanmar President U Thein Sein, in his radio speech to the nation these days, vowed that the government had made arrangements for restoring the normality of flood-hit areas as soon as possible by making the best use of financial and man power.
The president said that the government is ready to assist farmers in ploughing their lands and provide them with seeds to grow rice.
Meanwhile, Myanmar Rice Federation on Thursday decided to halt rice export until September 15 for domestic reserve in face of the severe flood. The one-and-a-half-month freeze is said to ensure an adequate supply of rice for the domestic market and to maintain stability of rice.
Export will not be done unless rice supply is sufficient for domestic market during the period, said the federation leadership, adding that a total of 170,000 bags of rice will be purchased from private sector to store as reserve for local self-sufficiency.
The federation, in its announcement, vowed to take steps to deal with price-hike of rice and rice shortage in flood-hit areas, offering to help those in need of rice.
As an alternative, the government is helping for high-yielding of paddy in over 6 million hectares which escaped the flood.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, about 344,493 hectares of farmlands were submerged, of which Rakhine state suffered the most which accounted for over 105,300 hectares.
Of the four declared disaster zones namely Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, Rakhine state was the worst hit.
Responding to Myanmar authorities' appeal, the United Nations and international organizations are bringing in their humanitarian flood assistance to the affected areas.
Some countries including China, Japan, Norway, Singapore and Thailand have also pledged to provide emergency aid to affected victims.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government also announced offering emergency relief aid worth 10 million yuan (1.63 million U.S. dollars) to help Myanmar's flood victims.
Accordingly, a Chinese largest non-governmental humanitarian organization, Blue Sky Rescue team, arrived in Yangon Tuesday to extend helping hand to Myanmar people affected by the deadly flood.
With the relief aid worth of 300,000 U.S. dollars, a Chinese flood relief mission, led by Ambassador Hong Liang, has visited flood areas of Sagaing region and Rakhine state and will proceed to Magway Region on Friday.
The aid includes 100 motorboats to be sent to flood-hit areas as soon as possible.
Severe flood, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, has affected many parts of the country, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads. Enditem
