Friday, August 10, 2012

Thousands homeless after Karen State floods

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Friday, 10 August 2012 14:20 Mizzima News

Up to 6,000 people are homeless after severe flooding in Hpa-an Township in Karen State.

Zaw Min, the Karen State chief minister, said that heavy rains since July have caused the Salween River to finally flood.

Flooding in Hpa-an Township in Karen State. Photo: Karen News

The homeless have taken shelter in eight emergency camps, the Karen News reported on Friday.

Flood victims are living in temporary shelters with health care provided by medical teams from the state and the Burmese Army.

The World Food Program has provided food and other material.

One Hpa-an town resident who lives next to the Salween River told Karen News, “The water levels have started to drop a little now, but we are unsure if it will continue to drop because there is still a lot more rain coming in the next month.”

The monsoon season in Burma normally runs from late April to early October, and floods and landslides are common in this period.

Other areas in Karen State affected by flooding are  Hlaingbwe, Kama Maung, Shwe Gone and Kyain Seikgyi townships.

In recent weeks, flooding also has occurred in the Irrawaddy, Pegu, Tenasserim and Rangoon areas and in Karen, Mon and Arakan states.

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