Mizzima

The Military Council said in its statement 25 May that the devastating cyclonic storm Mocha which hit Myanmar on 14 May damaged over 60,000 acres of farmland in five States and Regions and also left more than 500,000 livestock killed.

However, natural disaster analysts estimate the damage of this devastating cyclone will be more than the figures released by the Military Council when fully assessed.

Magway Region is one of the hardest hit by the cyclone with more than 50,000 acres of farmlands damaged in which 109 acres of summer paddy, 49,569 acres of summer sesame, 30 acres of monsoon and winter sunflower crops, 6,766 acres of monsoon mung peas, and 88 cows and water buffaloes killed.

Nearly 40,000 acres of farmland were damaged in Rakhine State where the eye of the cyclonic storm made landfall and also it killed over 500,000 livestock in this State.

According to the statement made by the Military Council, nearly 2,000 acres of farmlands were damaged by the storm in Sagaing Region of which 902 acres were of summer sesame and 1,065 acres of mung peas.

Moreover, 350 acres of summer sesame, 17 acres of monsoon mung peas were damaged by the storm in Mandalay Region and 75 acres of banana plantation were damaged in Ayeyarwady Region, the Military Council’s statement said.

The impact of this natural disaster hit the poor and low income people particularly hard as they lost their properties in the storm and they are facing the brunt of rising commodity prices.

As of the date of the junta statement, a number of commentators were saying that hmanitarian assistance and relief supplies have not yet been received on an adequate level.