Facing the flood aftermath

Sagaing State, Northwest Myanmar, 13 August 2015

Photos by Myo Thame

Children and their families in Kalay Township in the Sagaing region of northwest Myanmar, have witnessed some of the worst devastation from the floods. Some villages have been almost completely destroyed.

As flood levels begin slowly receding in northern regions like Sagaing, water continues to move downstream, posing serious threats to over 300,000 persons in Ayeyarwaddy and Bago regions.

UNICEF together with other UN agencies, is working closely with the Myanmar authorities to assess flood damages, to deliver urgent aid to meet immediate and recovery needs for clean and safe water, emergency health care, school and shelter repairs, and psychosocial support for children.



Five miles from Kalay Township in Sagaing Province, one of the areas worst hit by the flooding, houses and schools have been destroyed

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame



Schools, hospitals and clinics have been badly damaged by the floods. The floor of this schoolroom in Kalay Township is covered with 1.5 feet of thick mud.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame



Women carry food supplies to their camp at Kyee Kone village about five miles from Kalay Township in Sagaing Province. Deep mud deposits continue to make many roads impassable.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame



Four-month-old baby Pyae Sone Aye stays with her parents at San Myot Monastery, a temporary shelter for flood-affected families from Kalay Township. Health services are stretched, affecting those with special needs such as pregnant mothers, women giving birth, lactating mothers, and newborn babies and infants. UNICEF is supporting the provision of relief goods, to ensure that the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and women are addressed.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

 



Flood affected families find temporary shelter in San Myot Monastery, Kalay Township. As well as hygiene kits and bleaching powder to clean contaminated wells, UNICEF is providing information, education and communication materials on how to avoid health risks posed by unsafe water and sanitation facilities.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame



Mealtime at the temporary shelter in San Myot Monastery, Kalay Township.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

 



Food shortages are being reported in many of the worst affected areas, threatening those children who are already severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Flooding has inundated farmland and destroyed crops with long-term impacts on food security and livelihoods.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame



UNICEF is helping the Department of Social Welfare to deploy child protection caseworkers to Sagaing and other flood affected areas.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame

 

UNICEF and partners are also helping to train providers of psychosocial support for children in child-friendly spaces across the country.

© UNICEF Myanmar/2015/Myo Thame