UNICEF supplies arrive in Thandwe to help Myanmar flood victims
YANGON, 11 July, 2007 – Emergency UNICEF supplies have arrived in Thandwe township in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, to help families affected by the recent floods. Rakhine, the western coastal state bordering Bangladesh, was hit by torrential rains at the start of July, flooding parts of Thandwe, Buthidaung, Minpya, Sittwe, Ann, Kyauphyu , Yanbye and Gwa townships. Flooding has also been reported in Ayeyarwaddy, Bago and Tanintharyi Divisions on the central and southern coasts. “The flood waters have destroyed houses and covered the floors of hospitals, health posts and schools with mud,” UNICEF Representative, Ramesh Shrestha, said today. “The mud has also contaminated hundreds of drinking wells and has blocked latrines. We are concerned, therefore, about the health of the communities depending on these wells.” UNICEF field monitoring officers, who were in Rakhine State to help monitor the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign, are now helping conduct a rapid assessment to assess the further needs of the flood-affected communities. UNICEF dispatched by air on Tuesday essential drug kits to help supply both hospital and health posts. It has also dispatched 36,000 water-purification tablets and 1,000 packets of oral rehydration salts to help families affected by the floods. **********************************************
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