Floodwaters force evacuation of hundreds of IDPs in southern Shan State 

By Admin 12 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 October 2023, Moebye, Shan State

Hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) were evacuated to safer places as about 180 IDP shelters were submerged by floodwaters due to the rising water level of the Belu Creek following heavy rains during the first week of October in southern Shan State, according to locals and aid workers.

Since October 6, heavy rains and the rising water level of the Belu Creek caused IDP shelters outside Pwegon and Sikar wards in Moebye town to be flooded.

“Around 180 IDP shelters were inundated by floodwaters due to incessant rains and IDPs were evacuated to safer locations,” said an official from a Moebye IDP assistance group.

The IDPs who were affected by the flooding have been moved to the highlands in Moebye and they are in need of timber, bamboo and other materials to build temporary shelter, said aid workers.

“We evacuated IDPs affected by flooding to higher places. We need timber, bamboo and tarpaulin sheets to build makeshift tents for IDPs. It is not convenient for us to cut down bamboo due to heavy rains for the time being. We hope to build makeshift tents when the rains stop,” an aid worker said.

IDPs said that since October 10, some shelters had to be relocated due to rising water levels at Moebye Dam, fearing that the dam would be breached.

“It’s still raining. Some shelters had to be moved urgently due to the overflow of water at Moebye Dam. We built makeshift tents at a convenient location,” said an IDP.

The affected IDPs were displaced by fighting in downtown Moebye, which occurred in April of this year. They remain unable to return home due to an ongoing military presence in the area.