Myanmar Junta Asks for Foreign Aid in Rare Move Amid Deadly Floods

TaiwanPlus News

Myanmar's junta chief has made a rare request for foreign aid as deadly floods displace over 230,000 people, piling onto devastation in the country marred by an ongoing civil war.

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00:00Looking over their city, submerged in water, residents in Taungoo, Myanmar, join over 200,000

00:09others in the country fleeing in search of higher ground after deadly floods and landslides

00:15brought on by Typhoon Yagi.

00:17There are many people who have lost their homes, their homes, their homes, their homes.

00:32With thousands stranded, Myanmar's junta chief has made a rare request for foreign aid to

00:38cope with the effects of one of Asia's deadliest storms this year.

00:42Local authorities say at least 33 people have died, but U.S.-backed Radio Free Asia

00:47says that number could be higher than 160.

00:52The Southeast Asian country has been marred by three years of civil war, barring many

00:57aid agencies, including the Red Cross, from reaching the over 18 million people who the

01:03United Nations says need humanitarian assistance.

01:07During last year's Cyclone Mokha, which killed at least 140 people, the military government

01:13blocked aid groups from accessing devastated areas.

01:17Now in the wake of Typhoon Yagi, people have been fleeing by any means necessary, including

01:23by elephant.

01:25The floods have piled onto an already dire situation for people in Myanmar, leaving some

01:31with little to hold on to.

01:50So far, no comments from the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination in Myanmar,

01:56or the Red Cross, on the junta's request for help.

02:00Meanwhile, people are scrambling to find safety any way they can.

02:05Hawa Zhang and Joy Sun for Taiwan Plus.

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