Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
are fewer people in the village: many people are moving now to the places where they are able to find
better opportunities of jobs. Many youth from our village are going to Thailand, Malaysia, etc. for
finding better jobs there. The people in our village are now selling vegetables, cutting firewood, catching
fish that are sold in other villages and Kyaukphru. So most people in our village are hand-to-mouth
now.
Q: What is the current situation of health care in your village
A: My village has a clinic donated under the Shwe Gas Project after the Cyclone Giri. But there is no
medicine and medics or nurses for this clinic. We have to go to Kyaukphru for even general health care
and minor treatments of unhealthy ones. There are many children who are infected with disease of small
pox that is spreading to many others. The villagers have found it really difficult to save much money for
both food and health care. Worse there is no general health care and so the people in the village are
lack of medical knowledge. And there is no education for how to systematically use the toilets that were
provided by some NGOs. There are only two toilets in our entire village. So the villagers are going to
the forest nearby the village to clean their stomach that may affect the health of the people.
Q: What is the current situation of education in your village
A: There is one primary school and an unofficial middle school. But the schools are not in good
condition, and there are not enough teachers and teaching materials. The villagers have to support the
teachers who are provided by the government, as the salary given by the government for the teachers
are not met with or satisfactory to the needs of the teachers for their families. There are 7 middle school
students in the village, but these students will not continue their education, as their parents are not able
to support them due to the difficulty of paying the school fees and other expenses of 700,000 Kyats
(US$ 875) for each individual student of his/her education in Kyaukphru.
Q: What other difficulties do you have now
A: There is really a big difficulty in our village that we have been facing a huge shortage of drinking
and tap water. The current pool in our village cannot provide enough water for the needs of the villagers.
Other wells and pool in our village are not in good condition to get drinking water due to bad smell
from water.
Q: What do you want to say to the government and international community regarding your needs
A: I’d like to say that our government is fully responsible to provide any assistance for the needs of the
people especially in terms of education and health care in the rural areas. And also I’d like to urge and
request the international community that they should give the humanitarian assistance to the rural folks
for their needs of rural development such as education, health care, sanitation, etc.
12.
Gender: Male Place of Interview: Kanyaindaw Village, Kyaukphru
Township
Age: 40 Date of interview: 22 September 2012
Profession: Fishing businessman
Type of interview: Paper
Q: How many family members do you have
A: There are 10 people in my family: they are my wife’s parents, who are over 70 now, and the rest are
my four sons, two daughters, my wise and myself. Some of my children are early teenagers, my eldest
daughter is only 18 years old and the youngest son is only 2 years old now.
Q: Was your family affected by the Cylone Giri
A: My family was badly affected by the cyclone. My house was partially damaged and all the rice stored
was destroyed. So my entire family was in big trouble for food and accommodation. And worse all our
almost cultivated paddy fields were destroyed. I was mentally and physically affected for how to provide
food to my children including 4 months old son, my youngest one and aged father and mother in laws
during and after the cyclone.
Q: How have you survived since the Cyclone Giri
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