UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it has provided support to more than 230,000 people in Rakhine State and Magway Region affected by Cyclone Mocha, and aimed to provide three months of emergency food and money to 800,000 people.

The emergency food aid provided by WFP has reached more than 230,000 people affected by the cyclone in Rakhine State and Magway Region. It is working closely with local partners, WFP announced.

The WFP is working day and night in order to deliver life-saving food to all the victims of the storm as soon as possible. The WFP has already distributed food to Kyauktaw, Kyaukpyu, Sittway, Ponnakyun, Pauktaw, Myebon, MraukU and Yathedaun townships in middle areas of Rakhine State and Buthidaung and Moungdaw townships in northern Rakhine State, for the people affected by the storm, and plans are being made to expand and provide support, WFP announced.

In addition, the WFP announced that it aims to initially provide three months of emergency food and cash assistance to 800,000 people in areas affected by the Mocha storm throughout the country.

Among the areas hit by Cyclone Mocha, assistance is being provided in some areas that have access to aid, but a lot of humanitarian aid is still needed, said the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (interim) Mr. Ramanathan Bala Krishan.

Mr. Ramanathan Bala Krishnan visited Sittway, Rakhine State on May 25 for two days.

During the two-day trip, he witnessed the need for shelter, water sanitation and food, reported UNOCHA Myanmar.

In some areas that have access to assistance, although assistance is being provided, a lot of humanitarian aid is still needed. Humanitarian organizations are needed the right to access and help widely so that no one needs help is left behind and additional funds are needed to transport supplies, said UNOCHA Myanmar in a statement.

UNOCHA has announced that humanitarian partners are requesting US$333 million in emergency funding for the 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha.