Flood-hit Kyauktaw villagers urgently need aid

By Admin 15 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

15 July 2026, Kyauktaw

Residents of Taungpauk Village in the upper reaches of the Yoe Creek area of Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, are facing severe shortages of food and emergency assistance after the entire village was submerged by flooding in recent days.

Heavy rainfall caused mountain torrents from the Myarchaung River to flow into the Yoe Creek, rapidly raising water levels and inundating the village from 8 July to 11 July.

"In our area, water from the mountains flows down rapidly. All village roads were damaged. The stones we laid on the roads in June were completely swept away by the current. Villagers had to take shelter in monasteries and schools. During the peak of the floods, we had to cook on high tables and prepare meals under extremely difficult conditions," said U Tun Oo Chay, the village administrator of Taungpauk Village.

Taungpauk Village has more than 40 households with nearly 300 residents, all of whom were forced to evacuate to a nearby monastery after their homes were submerged.

The flooding affected every home in the village, destroyed a bridge built through community efforts, damaged houses, washed away roads, and contaminated local drinking water ponds with mud and silt.

Residents said the disaster has caused severe hardship and destroyed their small-scale livelihoods.

"The whole village had to flee toward the nearby mountain areas. Because we had children with us, we had to leave before the water level peaked. Evacuating at sunset made it even more difficult. If anyone had slipped and fallen, they could have been swept away and drowned. Our chickens were carried away by the floodwaters, and our pigs and cattle are missing. As poor people, if we cannot work even for one day because of the floods, we immediately face difficulties finding food," said Ko Kyaw Aye, a resident of Taungpauk Village.

Due to the village’s remote location and difficult travel routes, flood-affected residents have not yet received assistance from outside organizations, including the United League of Arakan.

Taungpauk residents are now urgently seeking food supplies, clean drinking water and healthcare assistance.

"Regarding healthcare, I am currently in poor health. I feel tightness in my chest and cannot swallow food. I do not have money for medical treatment. A single injection costs K60,000, which I cannot afford. When they asked for around K60,000, I had to give up the treatment. If possible, I want them to provide medical treatment and injections free of charge," said Daw Khaing Thein Nu, a resident of Taungpauk Village.

Located in the Yoe Creek area, Taungpauk is a remote village with limited healthcare access. Residents must travel by boat to Kanbeik Village to receive medical treatment.

Although floodwaters have receded, the disaster has left behind serious health risks for the community.

Most villagers are poor and depend on surrounding forests and mountains for their livelihoods, including orchard farming, bamboo shoot collection and logging.

Humanitarian groups reported that flooding has affected at least 10 townships across Arakan State in recent days, impacting more than 150,000 people.