Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s (Burma) ruling junta, made a rare appeal for foreign aid on Saturday after floods killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 236,000, state media reported.

Hlaing said Friday, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper: “Government officials should contact foreign countries to get help for the affected people.”

On the same day, ruling junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun announced that flooding caused by Cyclone Yagi had killed at least 33 people and displaced 236,000, saying communications with some areas were cut off.