It has been reported that a group of Mon Buddhist monks led the effort to extend vital support to the flood-hit communities in southern Shan State and Naypyidaw following the recent severe flooding.
With donations from local and international Mon donors, the Mon Buddhist monks offered their services to contribute to affected residents. On September 20, they visited several areas devastated by flooding, including Kalaw in southern Shan State, Hopong and Yamethin in the Pa-O self-administered zones, and Tatkon Township in Naypyidaw.
The monks reported providing an initial 50 million kyats in aid and are continuing to accept donations to continue supporting the affected communities.
A senior Buddhist monk from Ramannyarattha Buddhist University, involved in the relief efforts, stated, “We assessed the road conditions before traveling to the affected areas. We had to coordinate with the group from Hopong to collect donations. In Kalaw, we supported 30 households with 50,000 kyats each. In the southern region, we donated 15 million kyats to two villages in Yamethin and Tatkon.”
The senior Buddhist monk added that the flood-affected people urgently need assistance not only for transportation and food but also for post-flood recovery efforts, as the situation is still dire.
Another Mon Buddhist monk involved in the relief efforts stressed the importance of offering aid without ethnic discrimination, saying, “As monks, we must assist anyone in distress, regardless of ethnicity. We must do all we can to help during such a critical time.”
In addition to the efforts of the Mon Buddhist monks, social relief, charities, and individual donors in Mon State are also pitching in to help and contribute aid to the flood-affected communities.
The recent Typhoon Yagi caused severe floods in over 53 townships across various states and regions in Myanmar.
The reports released by the military council on September 19 stated that the severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Yagi resulted in 293 deaths, affecting 161,592 people and destroying 4,471 homes across the country.
