AHA CENTRE RESPONDS TO TROPICAL CYCLONE MYANMAR IN ASEAN
On 14 May 2023, Tropical Cyclone MOCHA made landfall in the state of Rakhine, Myanmar, boasting wind speeds of up to 250km/h equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. In its aftermath, a total of 17 townships in Rakhine and an additional 4 in Chin state were designated as Natural Disaster-affected areas, with damages to buildings, roads, and bridges estimated to be worth USD 1.5 million1.
To support the people of Myanmar affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) facilitated the deployment of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) to conduct a rapid needs assessment and facilitate the delivery of relief items to communities in need.
From their assessment of the regions of Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw, the ASEAN-ERAT pinpointed three sectors as top priorities for humanitarian needs: Food, Shelter and Non-food items, and Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).
As of 28 June 2023, the AHA Centre has mobilised more than USD 1.6 million worth of relief items from the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) warehouse in Subang, Malaysia, in the form of jerry cans, shelter repair kits, toolkit shelters, tarpaulins, family tents, kitchen sets, water filtration devices, mosquito nets, family kits, and hygiene kits. These provisions are set to be distributed by Myanmar authorities to the communities most affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA.
The mobilisation of ASEAN relief items and ASEAN-ERAT represent the tangible solidarity of the people of ASEAN for the people of Myanmar affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA. AHA Centre’s steadfast response also underscores ASEAN’s commitment to regional solidarity in the spirit of ‘One ASEAN One Response’, ensuring that no Member State faces hardship alone.
1SITUATION UPDATE No. 9 – TROPICAL CYCLONE MOCHA, Myanmar – 30 May 2023,
https://ahacentre.org/situation-update/situation-update-no-9-tropical-cyclone-mocha-myanmar-30-may-2023/
Written by: Gladys Respati | Photo by: AHA Centre
