Myanmar Junta Chief Appeals for Foreign Aid Amid Deadly Floods Displacing Hundreds of Thousands

Myanmar’s junta leader made a rare appeal for foreign assistance on Saturday as devastating floods continue to displace over 235,000 people, compounding the suffering of a country already ravaged by three years of war. The floods, triggered by Typhoon Yagi, have wreaked havoc across Southeast Asia, killing nearly 300 people in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

In Myanmar, entire villages have been submerged, adding to the struggles of a population grappling with the fallout of the military coup in 2021. In Taungoo, just south of the capital Naypyidaw, residents were seen navigating floodwaters on makeshift rafts around a Buddhist pagoda. Rescuers worked to clear debris and damaged power lines as they sped through the waters.

“I lost my rice, chickens, and ducks,” said farmer Naung Tun, who evacuated his livestock to higher ground. “Nothing is more important than saving lives, both human and animal,” he told AFP.

Desperate Escapes Amid Rising Waters

The aftermath of Typhoon Yagi sent people fleeing across Southeast Asia by any means possible, from jetskis in Thailand to elephants in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged the scale of the disaster and, in a rare move, called on foreign governments for aid to assist victims. “It is essential to quickly manage rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts,” he said, as reported by the Global New Light of Myanmar.

This request comes despite the junta’s history of obstructing foreign humanitarian aid. Last year, the military suspended travel permits for aid groups following Cyclone Mocha, which impacted nearly a million people. The U.N. criticized the junta’s actions as “unfathomable.”

Mounting Death Toll and Struggles for Relief

On Friday, the junta reported a death toll of 33, while rescue operations continued in flood-stricken areas. The military lost contact with some regions and was investigating reports of landslides in central Myanmar’s Mandalay region, which may have buried dozens in a gold-mining area.

Military trucks equipped with small rescue boats were dispatched to assist flood victims around Naypyidaw, while survivors like Naung Tun faced dire conditions. “Yesterday, we had only one meal,” he said. “Flooding makes life impossible for those of us who rely on daily wages.”

Over 2.7 million people have already been displaced in Myanmar due to conflict since the junta’s 2021 coup. The ongoing floods only add to this humanitarian crisis, as neighboring countries also grapple with the disaster. Vietnam reported 262 dead and 83 missing, while images from Laos showed homes engulfed by the Mekong River.