With its mountains, Chin state would be tough terrain to navigate in any season. Add heavy rains and flooding and the communities become virtually unreachable.
According to the government’s August 17 situation report, the western state has had more bridges – 303 – and roads – 267 – damaged than any other flood-affected region in the country.
“In terms of vulnerability, Chin state and Rakhine [state] are the poorest areas,” the report said.
Enter the horse.
On August 20, World Vision in Myanmar started deploying horses to deliver food to remote communities.
Spokeswoman Naw Phoebe said in an email that the animals were used as “an alternative way of transport” as landslides made traveling by car or even motorbike difficult.
Here they are being suited up for an aid run.
About 40 horses from local farms were dispatched in the first delivery. The main affected area is Tedim Township, where approximately 50 bridges were damaged.
Horses could only go so far, however. In some places, rice had to be carried along a rope in the absence of a bridge.
In Tedim, six villages have received rice rations, impacting nearly 7,000 people.
With Chin state’s infrastructure in shambles after the floods, “horses are the most suitable way to transport things to reach the affected people,” Phoebe said.
Photos / World Vision Myanmar Staff
