Bhone Myint Aung joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar’s Rakhine Field Office as a national UN Volunteer Project Associate in June 2020. When Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine in May 2023, Bhone remained at his duty station, in Rakhine’s capital Sittwe, along with his community, and chose not to relocate to other townships.
Bhone's family was among some 1.9 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha. His house was destroyed. But he stood at the fore supporting recovery efforts as part of UNDP’s rapid response and early recovery initiative.