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More than 100,000 Children with Little Access to Food and Clean Water in Flood-Affected Myanmar


Fairfield, Conn. – WEBWIRE

Over 100,000 children don’t have sufficient food and access to clean drinking water because of ruined crops and contaminated water wells in flood-affected Myanmar, warns Save the Children.

Jose Ravano, acting country director for Save the Children in Myanmar said: “Crops and seeds have been destroyed in the floods and that means that food will be in short supply over the coming weeks leading to fears that more children will be undernourished. As it stands, one-in-three children in Myanmar are stunted as a result of malnutrition and these floods could exacerbate an already dire situation.”

“The floods have also contaminated precious water sources such as wells, so we have concerns for how children will access sufficient drinking water. Our teams on the ground have reported many people are drinking only two literss of water a day, which is not enough in the heat and humidity.”

The children’s aid agency has also expressed concerns for children whose education has been disrupted because of the floods, estimating that 250,000 children are unable to attend school presently with over 2,400 schools shut.

“Thousands of Myanmar’s schools are presently closed – many have been inundated with water whilst those that have been spared are being used as evacuation centres for people made homeless by the floods. Many children have also lost all of their school books and other educational materials.”

“We would like to see schools reopen very soon so children can continue their education in an environment that will also give them a sense of normality after the disruption of these devastating floods.”

Save the Children has launched a humanitarian response to support flood-affected children and their families in Rakhine State, Magway Region and Chin State. The children’s aid agency has sent teams to conduct assessments of the situation and needs. Essential hygiene and household items have been sent to the affected areas and distributions will take place as soon as possible.

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.



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