A powerful storm closed in on the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people to safer locations, many from frail homes in low-lying areas.
Cyclone Mocha, packing winds of up to 210 kph , could bring sea surges of up to 12 feet affecting more than 2 million people directly in its path, most of them in Myanmar's Rakhine and Chin states.
"Saving lives is our main priority," said disaster relief official Mijanur Rahman in neighbouring Bangladesh, which has moved about 300,000 people before the storm is expected to hit land around noon. "People at risk are in the process of being transferred to safe shelters and we are also arranging relief packages," said Farah Kabir of ActionAid Bangladesh.
At least 100,000 people in Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine state have moved to safer areas since last week, said a major ethnic militia and the U.N. humanitarian office ."We have arranged for meals in co-operation with local residents but if this becomes long-term, there will be more problems."
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