Mizzima

Figures in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) Situation Update on Tropical Cyclone Mocha, published on 24 May, are similar to the figures announced by the junta.

The ASEAN report said that 148 people lost their lives as a result of the cyclone. The junta announced on 18 May that 145 people had died because of the cyclone and denied unofficial death tolls that put the number of deaths at over 400.

The information that was collated for the AHA Centre report came from, amongst other sources, government agencies, humanitarian and dialogue partners and news organisations.

According to the report, 148 people were killed because of the cyclone, 131 were injured and 298,635 buildings were damaged. 1.33 million people from 283,000 households were affected by the cyclone and around 912,277 people were evacuated to safer places. Of those, 233,000 are still in evacuation centres.

The estimated cost of cyclone damage to buildings and infrastructure is estimated to be $1.5 million USD. 80 to 90 per cent of buildings in Sittway and Yathedaung townships in Rakhine State have been damaged in some way by the cyclone.

The AHA Centre said that a total of $168,000 USD worth of relief items have arrived in Yangon, and more aid will be mobilized from Malaysia and Thailand. 

The National Unity Government (NUG) has also announced that it will contribute US$1 million to the Cyclone Mocha emergency response.

The NUG Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management announced that it has provided over 84 million kyats worth of emergency humanitarian aid to Cyclone Mocha victims as of 19 May 2023.  

The NUG also disputes the official death toll. Aung Kyaw Moe, an Advisor at the NUG Ministry of Human Rights, told CGS news last week that the number of confirmed deaths was 200 and more than 200 others were missing. 

Mizzima has been unable to check any of the figures or claims.