One week has passed since the landfall of the large cyclone that caused enormous damage in Myanmar, but there is no prospect of recovery in the affected areas. Since the UN agency has not received permission from the military and others at the helm, it is unable to provide full-fledged support on the ground, and is requesting an immediate response.

In Rakhine State in western Myanmar, where a large cyclone made landfall on the 14th of this month, the Rohingya Muslim minority, which the military continues to repress, have been severely damaged, and the National Unity Government, an organization of pro-democracy forces that opposes the military, has killed 435 people so far, and the number of victims is expected to increase further in the future.

One week after landing, Noriko Takagi, Representative of the Myanmar Office of UNHCR = United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, gave an interview to NHK in Yangon, the largest city, on the 1th.

Regarding the current state of support, Mr. Takagi explained, "Although we are providing support little by little, we have not been able to go to the site to investigate the damage situation, and we have not yet been able to start providing support to all the victims."

On the 20th of this month, he held a meeting with the military at the helm in the capital Naypyidaw and asked for permission to enter the disaster-stricken area so that assistance could be provided as soon as possible, but so far there has been no prospect.

Mr. Takagi added, "We stockpiled relief supplies before the cyclone hit, so we are ready to distribute them. We want to get to the site as soon as possible," and called for an immediate response to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

Male: "My 7-month-old son was swept away"

In Bu May Village, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, strong winds and high waves caused by the cyclone on the 14th of this month caused enormous damage, including the collapse of houses.

Footage from the ground obtained by NHK shows children of the Rohingya Muslim minority in the village collecting coconut juice and pulp from fallen palm trees to supplement their food.

A man who lost his seven-month-old son regretted not being able to evacuate, saying, "When I left the house, the water was getting stronger, and when I tried to take a few steps, the string on my back untied and the child was washed away.

The man called for help, saying, "Debris has gotten into a well in the village, there is no drinking water, we have nothing left."