Severe flooding in Myanmar’s Bago Region has left tens of thousands of people in urgent need of clean drinking water and humanitarian aid, as floodwaters continue to rise and contaminate water sources across multiple townships.
Triggered by heavy rainfall from a tropical cyclone, the Sittaung River has been steadily rising since 19 July, inundating more than 60 low-lying neighbourhoods and villages including Taungoo, Oktwin, Htantabin, Shwekyin, Nyaunglaypin, and Madauk Townships.
Locals report that most wells have been submerged or polluted by floodwater, leaving communities with little to no access to safe drinking water. Many are now relying on stored rainwater for survival.
“The wells are flooded. In the town, we can’t even buy purified drinking water anymore, and prices have gone up. Roads are under water, cutting off the supply of goods. The situation is worse in the villages. Places like Oktwin, Htantabin, Madauk, and Shwekyin have completely run out of drinking water,” said a local resident.
Communication lines have also been disrupted in many flood-hit areas, with phone and internet services down, hampering coordination efforts and delaying relief operations.
According to a local social welfare group in Taungoo, nearly 50,000 people have been affected in that township alone, where nine relief camps have been set up.
“People are still arriving at the camps. The water hasn’t risen today, but it hasn’t receded either. We’re helping families who are trying to relocate,” an official said.
In Madauk Township, nearly 90 percent of the area remains submerged after more than a week of continuous flooding.
Local sources say that the junta has imposed restrictions on independent relief teams, further limiting access to emergency aid.
“Relief work is only visible in Taungoo. In other areas, no official teams are present. Local authorities and civilians aren’t offering help either. There are military checkpoints between towns. People are desperate,” said a resident of Oktwin.
With no official aid reaching many villages, flood victims have sought shelter with relatives on higher ground or are surviving in makeshift tents. In Madauk’s Nyaunpinpauk village alone, over 10,000 people have reportedly been affected.
“Last year’s flooding was severe, but there was aid. This year, it’s worse, and no camps have been opened,” said a local from Madauk.
The floods have also devastated livelihoods across the region, with many residents cut off from work, food supplies, and essential services. Aid workers warn that thousands now depend entirely on humanitarian assistance to survive.
According to the junta’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the Sittaung River remains above danger levels in Taungoo and Madauk and is likely to stay high for at least another day. The Shwekyin River is also expected to remain above its danger level, though it may drop slightly.
Residents anticipate continued flooding in the Sittaung River basin until early August. While seasonal flooding is common in the Bago Region, this marks the second consecutive year of extreme inundation, with increasing calls for long-term disaster preparedness and immediate emergency relief.
