Diarrhea Outbreak in Cyclone Affected Area

News: Narinjara

Posted: 30,10,2010 

An outbreak of diarrhea has spread across the cyclone affected area in Mray Bon and Myinbya Townships in Arakan after Cyclone Giri slammed into several coastal areas of the state last Friday, report locals and relief workers. 

cyclone Giri victims

At least three people in the area have died after suffering from diarrhea recently after the disease began spreading. The outbreak has been attributed to the contaminated water the cyclone victims have been forced to use for lack of other options.

Two people died in Taung Gri Run Village in Mray Bon Township died on Tuesday, and a 57-year-old woman from Ran Dai Village in Minbya Township died on Wednesday.

Rakhine National Development Party chairman, Dr. Aye Maung, also confirmed there is an outbreak of diarrhea in the area and the death toll from the disease is currently at three.

A relief worker said that most villagers who are living on the islands now have to drink coconut water after many reservoirs in their villages were washed away by storm surges. The remaining reservoirs in the cyclone affected area have been flooded by saltwater.

"People in the cyclone affected area are having coconuts as food because there is no other food. A few days after they began eating the coconuts, they were hit by the diarrhea," the relief worker added.

A doctor from Sittwe who did not want to reveal his name said that diarrhea had broken out at an "alarming rate" in the affected area after the shortage of food and drinking water. He noted that if there is no food or drinking water, as well as no roofs or wells in the temporary huts used for shelter, the rate of diarrhea will increase drastically.

According to local sources, some local relief organizations brought in fresh water to supply those in the disaster area, but there is not enough for all the victims.