After cyclone Mocha that hit Rakhine State on 14 May, a recent wave of flood has devasted the State in westernpart of Myanmar.

The flood waterhas damaged tens of thousands of acres of farmland and also destroyed over 100 drinking waterponds.

However, the extent of damage is yet to be estimated as flood water continues to cover rice fields, said UWai Hla Aung, a local farmer from Min Bya township.

“Most of the  planted rice fields were damaged. The farmers have to replant those fields again. They needmore money and paddy seedsnow,” added U Wai Hla Aung.

But there is no sufficient volume of seeds for  replanting, asserted the farmer adding that  Arakanfarmers are facing a difficult situation.

Rakhine townships namely  Kyauk Taw, Mrauk U and Min Bya experienced heavy rainfalls during August 1 to 10and faced the flood furies.

No less than  22 drinking ponds in Kyauk Taw township, about 50 in Min Bya township and about 20 in Mrauk Utownship were inundated by the floodwater and most of them have damaged.

But the military junta government has not offered effective assistances to the flood affectedfamilies, alleged the local people.

The locals have claimed that over one hundred drinking water ponds were damaged by the flood water.

The junta authority is yet to clarify over the number of ponds damaged by the flood.

State rural department head U Chit Maung informed Narinjara News that they are still collecting records ofthose damaged ponds.

The townships of Kyauk Taw, Ann, Mrauk U, Min Bya, Maungdaw, Maebon, Taungup, etc experienced heavy rains inthe last few days. The rivers andstreams are flowing above the danger levels.

Lately the flood water has receded, but the residents havefound it difficult for thelivelihood as their paddy fields, ponds as well as many bridges were damaged by the flood water.