A total Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal requirement for the 1.6 million affected people is US$333 million, but only US$24.2 million has been received so far, according to a statement released by UNOCHA.  

“Generous funding is vital with only US$24.2 million received to date against a total Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal requirement of US$333 million,” said the statement.

Humanitarians have reached almost 380,000 people with food in Rakhine State alone and more than 144,000 people with shelter support and relief items since the cyclone.

Additionally, nearly 12,500 people received healthcare and more than 7,000 children under 5 and more than 1,500 caregivers in 8 priority townships in Rakhine received nutrition assistance, UNOCHA said.

Furthermore, more than 34,000 children and caregivers received psychosocial support and 70 contaminated ponds in three townships were successfully de-watered.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to engage with the authorities at the Nay Pyi Taw and regional level to expand access to people in need, the statement said. 

One month on from Cyclone Mocha, the unexpected retraction of initial approval for cyclone distribution and transportation plans and the temporary suspension of existing travel authorizations (TAs) for humanitarian organizations in Rakhine by the authorities, has impacted the humanitarian response across the state. This sudden decision has exacerbated the already dire living conditions of the cyclone-affected population as heavy rains and flooding from the monsoon season continue to impact areas already severely affected by the cyclone, it pointed out.

UNOCHA also announced in late May that with the monsoon looming, the humanitarian community is in a race against time to respond to a shelter, water, sanitation and food emergency in areas most heavily affected by Cyclone Mocha that smashed western Myanmar on 14 May. A $333m Flash Appeal has been launched to support 1.6 million people in Rakhine, the Northwest, and parts of Kachin.