Cyclone Mora destroys Health and Hope Training Centre and homes in Lailenpi

Torrential rain and high winds in western Myanmar have destroyed homes and triggered landslides in rural villages within Chin State.  In Lailenpi, Matupi Township, thirty-seven homes were destroyed overnight as cyclone Mora headed north after having made landfall in Bangladesh on Tuesday 30th May 2017.

Roads serving Lailenpi have been damaged by landslides or are blocked with fallen trees and over 250 men, women and children are currently being supported by the local community after having been made homeless.

We are devastated to report that Health and Hope Myanmar’s training centre was also destroyed by high winds, along with allied buildings.  Over the past 6 years, the centre has supported the training of 834 Community Health Workers from 551 villages across southern Chin and Rakhine State, in addition to acting as a central storage facility for the distribution of food relief during cyclone Komen.

Dr Sasa, founder of Health and Hope Myanmar, reported that the devastation of homes and buildings across the community will be felt for years to come and will impact the provision of training to Community Health Workers across the region in the short-term.

Photographs of the the training centre before and after the devastation can be seen here.

Elders from the town in Lailenpi have said that damage caused by the storm was the worst they have witnessed, with heavy rain continuing to hamper efforts to repair partially damaged buildings and provide shelter to those who have lost their homes. Flash flooding and damage to crops across the region continues to be a significant concern for this remote rural community.

We have set up a Cyclone Mora Appeal Fund on our donations page for those that may wish to respond. Funds will be allocated towards rebuilding costs and families affected by the cyclone.

Thank you for your ongoing support.