Heavy monsoon rains have caused severe flooding in Myanmar. ©CARE

CARE Australia is preparing to distribute emergency relief supplies to areas worst affected by flooding and landslides in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

In Myanmar, at least 39 people have been killed, with more than 200,000 people affected across the country.

“Myanmar has been hit hard by heavy monsoon rains for the last two weeks, worsened by the effects of Cyclone Komen hitting Bangladesh last week,” said Stav Zotalis, CARE Myanmar’s Country Director.

“It’s devastating because the torrential rain has caused rivers to overflow, making access to affected communities extremely difficult. We’re trying to get to the hardest hit areas to prevent further deaths,” Ms Zotalis said.

“CARE staff are assessing the damage. Safe drinking water, food and basic shelter are the greatest needs right now.”

Ms Zotalis said the full extent of the damage won’t be known until assessment teams reach areas that have been cut off.

She said landslides have destroyed roads and washed away bridges. Telephone networks have also been severely damaged in many parts of the country.

CARE will also continue ongoing relief efforts in Bangladesh following flooding that started in June.

So far CARE has distributed food and water purifiers to over 5,400 children and families in Bangladesh.

CARE has worked in Myanmar since 1995 to improve the lives of people in poor communities through empowerment of women and their communities. CARE has ten offices throughout in Myanmar, with over 290 staff members working across the country.

CARE started its operations in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) in 1949 and now has around 900 staff. CARE works with poor and marginalised communities including through strong relationships with civil society, government, and the private sector.

CARE Australia is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. www.care.org.au

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For more information or to arrange interviews with CARE aid workers in Myanmar and Australia, contact our media team.