Disastrous flooding adds to Myanmar’s humanitarian emergency

The ongoing humanitarian emergency in Myanmar is being compounded by devastating floods in the north of the country, accor-ding to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, which is operated by the Pontifical Mission Societies. The flooding came as a result of roughly a week of intense rains that espe-cially affected Myanmar’s Saga-ing region and Kachin State, leading to further suffering for the nation’s civilian population, which has already been extremely tried by the ongoing civil conflict.
The Sagaing region had already been under severe strain following the March 28 earth-quake, which killed more than 3,700 people, displaced thousands of others, and caused immense damage to homes and infrastru-cture. Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting that Myanmar’s ruling military junta said it has extended a temporary ceasefire to June to support reconstruction and relief efforts following the quake.
Days after that natural disa-ster, in early April, the junta announced a ceasefire to support relief efforts, following similar moves by anti-junta armed groups. In addition, the opposition groups have also extended their ceasefire to the end of June. Despite the ceasefire announcement, the agency reports, military airstrikes and artillery attacks have conti-nued in some parts of the country.
A new report issued by the United Nations High Commi-ssioner for Human Rights, cited by Fides, confirms the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, especially due to military viol-ence and the collapsed economy. Set to be presented at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council in early July, the document calls the situation “increasingly catastrophic, marked by incessant atrocities that have affected all aspects of life.” Moreover, it details how the economic plight is compo-unding the nation’s emergency.