Flood-Hit Kyonpyaw Villagers Survive on Bananas and Broken Rice, Urgently Need Donors

Flood-affected villagers in Kyonpyaw Township surviving on bananas and broken rice, urgent need for donors

September 7

In flood-affected villages in Kyonpyaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region, the arrival of donors and aid has been scarce, forcing affected residents to eat whatever they can find, including bananas and broken rice, it has been reported.

After the Ngawun River embankment breached on August 10, around 30 villages in Kyonpyaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region, have been suffering from flooding for nearly a month, and there is an urgent need for donor assistance with basic food supplies and drinking water, according to reports.

"We need food supplies — there's no rice left at all. People are picking bananas and cucumbers to eat however they can. Some are mixing broken rice with regular rice to cook. There are many who don't even get one meal of rice a day. If possible, we want donors to come. We're also collecting rainwater to drink. The river water isn't flowing — it's stagnant, and the water has become undrinkable," said one flood-affected resident.

Due to the flooding and resulting food shortages, tens of thousands of residents from around 30 villages in Kyonpyaw Township — including Kansu Village, Htawti Village, Yetaik Village, Kunbaw Zayathit Village, Mahu Chaung Village, Ohn Pin Su, Shwe Kyaik Kone, Inn Yay Gyi Village, Thabauk Yoe Village, Nyaung Kone Village, Thone Inn Tan Village, Pet Pet Inn Village, Sin Ku Village, and Sar Kyat Kone Village — are suffering from the flood disaster, it has been reported.