At least 60 people have died in Myanmar after Cyclone Mocha hit the country on Sunday. The storm, which had winds of up to 195 km/h, caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Many villagers are waiting for aid and support as they attempt to repair their homes. The Rohingya Muslim minority were particularly badly affected, with at least 41 people dying in two villages. The United Nations refugee office is investigating reports that Rohingya in displacement camps have also died. The Rohingya are denied citizenship and healthcare in Myanmar and require permission to travel outside their villages.
China has offered emergency disaster relief assistance to Myanmar in the wake of the cyclone. The United Nations has made an urgent appeal for aid to help those affected by the storm. Cyclones are a regular threat to the northern Indian Ocean coastline, where tens of millions of people live. Rising temperatures may have contributed to the intensity of Cyclone Mocha, according to non-profit group ClimateAnalytics. Warmer oceans can allow storms to gather power more quickly.
Contact with Sittwe, a city of 150,000 people, is being slowly restored following the cyclone. Roads are being cleared and internet connections re-established. However, many Rohingya villagers have yet to receive any assistance. One man said that he and his family had not eaten for two days and that no-one had even come to ask if they needed help.
