Press Release
June 8, 2023
On May 14, 2023, Cyclone Mocha, an exceptionally powerful storm, hit the region as it made landfall between Akyab in Myanmar’s Arakan State and Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. The aftermath of this devastating event left a trail of destruction, loss of life, and widespread devastation in its wake.
Due to the Myanmar military regime’s blocking of access for UN organizations and INGOs to the affected area, the Rohingya and other ethnic groups are experiencing severe suffering as a result of inadequate humanitarian assistance and the absence of basic necessities.
While the people of Arakan continue to endure hardship, the Bangladesh government has taken a commendable step by dispatching a Navy ship carrying approximately 120 tons of relief materials, including essential supplies such as dry food, medicines, and water purification tablets. According to media reports, the ship arrived at the Thilawah Port in Yangon on June 5, 2023.
Bangladesh’s provision of relief materials to the people of Myanmar is not unprecedented. In the face of previous powerful cyclones in 2015 and 2008, Bangladesh demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian efforts.
The Arakan Rohingya National Alliance (ARNA) expresses heartfelt gratitude to Bangladesh for extending life-saving relief materials. We strongly urge the Bangladesh government to exert pressure on the Myanmar military regime to ensure the equitable distribution of relief materials to all Rohingya victims in Arakan and members of other ethnic groups.