Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
of youths working in Thailand from other villages of my township and other townships of Mraybon,
Pauktaw, Kyaukphru that were badly affected by the cyclone. These numbers increased only after Cyclone
Giri.
Q: What are the current situations of education and health care in your village
A: Actually I don’t know much detail about the education and health care in our village, since I left for
Thailand more than one year ago. But according to some youth from our village who recently arrived
in Thailand, most of the families are not still able send their children to middle and high schools due to
lack of income for the expenses of education. For the minor and general health care, the people from
our village normally do the treatment by buying medicines from the village shops. But there will be a
big problem for the serious and infected diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery, etc., as the treatment
in the town and city is really expensive and costly.
Q: What do you want to say to the government and INGOs
A: I want to say to both our government and INGOs that they should support the needy and Giri most
affected people in their rebuilding efforts of damaged families’ businesses including farming, gardening
and fishing. Apart from support for these, they should also give other necessary assistance for the
education and health care of rural folks. In fact, I really want to continue high school and university
education. But I lost all my dreams, as my parents are poor and my family situation became worse after
the cyclone that forced me to come to Thailand to work and help the family.
8.
Gender: Female Place of Interview: Mae Sot
Age: 27 Date of interview: 25 April 2012
Profession: Migrant worker in Thailand
Type of interview: Audio
Q: Where do you come from and what was your job when you were in Arakan/Burma
A: I come from Syunray Village in Marmbra Township. Actually I just helped my family work of
agricultural farming and housework, as my family is poor. So I didn’t have any permanent job since
before I left for Thailand to get a job.
Q: When did you arrive in Thailand and did you have any difficulty along the way to Thailand
A: I managed to arrive in Thailand in January 2012. Actually I had a lot of difficulties along the way
to Thailand, as I didn’t have enough money for the trip to Thailand. So I didn’t have a few meals on the
way to Thailand. Fortunately I found a very generous woman who helped some money to get to Thailand.
Even in Thailand, I didn’t get a job in the first money. I just received a job at the garment factory a few
months ago. The job is quite fine now.
Q: Can you tell how much was your village affected by the Cyclone Giri
A: About 400 houses, almost all cultivated paddy fields, shrimp farming and fish breeding businesses of
the village were all destroyed by the cyclone. So many villagers became homeless and jobless. The
people from our village are not still able to rebuild their families’ businesses of farming and breeding
shrimp and fish damaged. They are in needs of support for rebuilding their broken livelihoods to
normal.
Q: Were there any relief groups in your village during and after the cyclone
A: Some relief groups arrived in our village, but I didn’t know who were who. These groups only were
able to give some assistance of emergency relief supplies. The problem was that the relief items distribution
were not equally and fairly delivered among the villagers through the village headman. The village
authorities took the best items of relief supplies and the villagers were provided the items that are not
good in quality.
Q: What is the current situation of livelihoods in your village
A: Only some families in our village were able to rebuild their livelihoods to quite normal and they are
quite alright in their families’ businesses. But most of the families are still struggling with the rebuilding
efforts of their families’ livelihoods damaged. The rice production is not good compared to the past
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