Myanmar ⁣Floods: Death Toll Exceeds 226, Thousands in Need of Humanitarian Aid

Foreign news agencies report‍ from Yangon, Myanmar, that the ⁢death toll from the recent ‌floods has ⁤risen⁤ to​ at least 226 cases, according⁣ to the Myanmar National Television Station ⁤(MRTV) on September 17. This number has increased rapidly‍ from the previously confirmed 113 deaths last Sunday.

Additionally,​ at least 77 people are still missing,‍ and⁢ approximately ‍260,000 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged⁣ by the floods.

Data from the ⁢United Nations ​Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates ⁤that 631,000 people in Myanmar are suffering ‍from the floods, ⁣with urgent humanitarian assistance needed.

General​ Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of⁢ the ‍Armed ‌Forces and Leader of the Military Government of Myanmar, has ordered government⁢ officials to contact and coordinate ‌with foreign agencies to request support in⁣ rescuing and providing ⁢assistance to the people in flood-affected areas. This move is⁣ considered rare, as‍ Myanmar’s military government has historically been ‌hesitant to request external⁤ humanitarian assistance.

Historically, Myanmar⁣ has been​ reluctant to accept foreign aid. In ‍2008, the country suffered widespread damage‌ from ‍Cyclone Nargis, ⁣which killed at least 138,000‌ people. The then-military government initially refused‍ foreign‍ aid but later agreed after facing heavy pressure from the international community.