On May 14, 2023, Cyclone Mocha, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Myanmar, with sustained winds of 175 miles per hour (280 km/h). As it approached land, it weakened to a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Cyclone Mocha moved inland towards Chin State, near Paletwa town, in the evening of May 14, causing significant damage to people’s homes, infrastructure, power, and water services in Tedim Township, Paletwa Township, Matupi Township, and Hakha Township. These townships were declared as natural disaster areas under section 11 of the Natural Disaster Management Law.

Approximately 5.4 million civilians in Myanmar were affected by the natural disaster caused by Cyclone Mocha. UNOCHA made an appeal for urgent humanitarian aid for 3.2 million people in Myanmar. According to estimates by the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), Cyclone Mocha could cause $35 billion in damage.      

Damages in Chin State

A total of 2,774 structures were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha in Chin State, including 102 religious buildings, 12 healthcare buildings, 185 education buildings, 259 barns, and 15 other buildings. Additionally, 69 domestic animals and livestock were killed, including 50 cattle (cows and buffaloes), 13 chickens and ducks, and 6 pigs and goats.

Challenges faced by civilians

Due to the illegal coup by the Myanmar military, civil society organizations’ role has diminished, and social capital has also decreased. In order to provide immediate relief to the people affected by the cyclone, not only humanitarian aid but also the social capital of civil society organizations is crucial. Amidst Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis, the people are in dire need of a political system, administration, management, and resettlement they can truly rely on for their rehabilitation.

The aftermath of Cyclone Mocha has had a significant impact on Chin civil society organizations, resistance groups, and the local people. Arakan State, Sagaing Region, and Chin State, where Cyclone Mocha passed through, are regions with strong resistance against the military junta and frequently experience attacks, leading to blockages by the Myanmar military.

As a result, the Myanmar military junta has not allowed humanitarian aid to reach the affected people in these regions with strong resistance. In the Sagaing Region, Magwe Region, and Chin State, which are under the Western Command of the Myanmar military, transportation of food items and supplies has been restricted since 2021, through their infamous “four-cuts” strategy.

Moreover, the Myanmar junta has suspended travel licenses for aid workers attempting to reach the people affected by the cyclone, according to a statement from the United Nations Humanitarian Office. Consequently, aid organizations face significant challenges in effectively carrying out their work when a natural disaster strikes.

In some areas, civilians affected by Cyclone Mocha had to seek help from resistance groups who normally relied on their support. As natural disasters often lead to displacements and relocations, newcomers and local residents may find it difficult to adjust and live together harmoniously in certain places. Therefore, all stakeholders must exercise special care to prevent new conflicts between newly resettled migrants, social organizations, and resistance groups.