UN commends Myanmar's response to deadly floods

The United Nations has commended the efforts of the government of Myanmar in its response to the deadly floods, which killed 39 people and affected more than 200,000 across large parts of the Asian country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Monday.

"Acting (UN) resident and humanitarian coordinator for Myanmar, Eamonn Murphy, commended the ongoing efforts being led by the Myanmar authorities and military, civil society groups, and local organizations, as well as the Myanmar Red Cross Society," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

The death toll was provided by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in accordance with the information from the government of Myanmar, Dujarric said, adding that the flooding was caused by heavy monsoon and the rains.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing at least 150,000 people in the worst-affected areas with one-month rations of rice, pulses, cooking oil, salt and other supplies, he said.

"The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that vulnerable children in Myanmar face a 'double catastrophe' as floods and the hardship faced by children living in poverty and those recovering from violence and conflict," the spokesman added.

Flooding caused by heavy rainfall in late July has hit people of 42 townships in Myanmar's 12 regions and states, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads, reports said.

A total of 31 relief camps were opened for the disaster- affected people in Kayin and Mon states as well as Bago region.

Chin and Rakhine states, as well as Sagaing and Magway regions were declared as disaster-hit areas, the government announced on Friday.

Water levels in Myanmar's five major rivers, the Ayeyawady, Chindwin Thanlwin, Sittoung and Ngawun are dangerously high and likely to exceed flood warning benchmarks over the next two days, the reports said.

The weather bureau also warned of heavy rain in Magway, Sagaing, Bago, Taninthayi and Yangon regions, as well as Rakhine and Chin States, due to deep depression formed over Bangladesh and more torrential rain is expected in the coming days.

A national disaster preparedness committee is making evacuation and resettlement efforts in Ayeyawaddy and Bago regions, as well as Kayin and Mon states, which are also experiencing floods.