Monsoon rains submerge villages, fields in Myanmar

Severe monsoon flooding has inundated villages and farmland in central Myanmar, forcing residents to abandon their homes, including those already displaced due to the country's 2021 military coup. Cho Myint, a 53-year-old villager from Wetlet township, expressed the severity of the situation, stating her family had lost everything and was left with nothing.

The United Nations reported that between July and August, around 390,000 people, with 230,000 in Sagaing state alone, were affected by the flooding. Villagers from Wetlet, such as U Sint, recounted how war refugees in the area were living in temporary shelters that were submerged, losing their possessions. The floods have also destroyed livelihoods, with rice seedlings swept away and planting paddy impossible.

Myanmar's social welfare ministry reported that by August 11, the heavy rainfall and river flooding had displaced over 11,400 people from 3,220 households. Aung Ko from Wetlet said only about 10-14 people remained in their home, living on an upper floor under tarpaulins and surviving on instant noodles and bottled water provided by rescuers.

While the monsoon is necessary for farming, climate change is making the event more unpredictable and dangerous, exacerbating humanitarian needs for food, healthcare, safe water, and livelihood support.