ASEAN chief conveys sympathy over Myanmar flooding

In a letter addressed to Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, Minh said that the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) will continue to monitor the situation as well as support the ongoing humanitarian and disaster-relief efforts undertaken by the Myanmar Government.

Central and northern Myanmar is experiencing massive flooding due to heavy rainfall associated with a southwest monsoon and a tropical storm over the Bay of Bengal.

Following his visit to the affected areas, President Thein Sein issued a statement on July 31 declaring natural disaster zones in the Chin and Rakhine states and the Sagain and Magway regions.

As of August 5, the death toll from the severe flooding had risen to 69 with nearly 260,000 people affected by the disaster.

More than 445,700 hectares of farmlands in 13 regions and states were submerged, of which the Bago region is suffering the most with over 124,500 hectares underwater.