Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
A: My family members were not injured, but our house was partially damaged and our rice stored for 6
months was destroyed by the cyclone. And also our almost cultivated paddy fields were totally damaged
and submerged with salt water by the cyclone. So our family was in trouble for famine after the cyclone.
Q: What is the current situation your family livelihood
A: We don’t have any enough income for entire family, as farming in the farms is the only work of our
family. So we have to work with whatever job we get to feed our family. And even the school children
have to work during the summer to help their family. I’m really sorry and feel sympathized my children
that they have tried to save some money for their school expenses during their school holidays. If they
can’t save themselves for their education expenses, I’m sure we would not be able support them for their
education.
Q: What is the current situation of their education now
A: There are four students: my two daughters are in the 6th and 8th standard, and my youngest son and
granddaughter are in the kindergarten in this year now. Since there is no official middle school in our
village, I will have to send my 8th standard daughter to another place. So more money is needed for her
education, and I don’t know what to do for the education of my children now as long as the school
season is approaching. As you know, the education expenses in Burma are really expensive. So most of
the ordinary families can’t afford to send their children to school. Instead, the parents often force their
children to leave the school and let them help their family.
Q: Do you have anything to say to the government and NGOs
A: Actually I don’t know how and what to say to the government for our needs of support. But one thing
in my mind is that the government should support us and other poor people in their families’ rebuilding
efforts. Similarly the NGOs and the international community should also give some humanitarian
assistance to the vulnerable and Giri affected community in their needs of rebuilding efforts as well as
the needs of education and health care especially to those who are living in the remote and rural areas.
14.
Gender: Male Place of Interview: Prai Daung Village, Pauktaw Township
Age: 45 Date of interview: 12 October 2012
Profession: Fisherman
Type of interview: Paper
Q: How many family members do you have
A: I have a seven member family. There are three sons, two daughters, my wife and myself.
Q: What is your job
A: I’m a fisherman. My family fishes in the rivers and sea. We don’t do anything apart from our fishing
business.
Q: Your village is situated on the western bank of Pharongar Island in the Bay of Bengal; how did the
Cyclone Giri affect your family
A: We are still being affected by the cyclone, as all our fishing boats, nets and house were totally
damaged. Also our animals such as chickens and pigs died, but we were fortunate to have survived by
barely escaping death during the cyclone. It’s because I had a radio and so I knew that there would be
a cyclone, but I didn’t know how strong the cyclone was. Even though I knew there would be a cyclone,
we had to go fishing in the sea, as we are just an ordinary family depending on the income from the
fishing business. But we didn’t go fishing very far away from the shore. A few hours before the cyclone
hit the Arakan Coast, we returned to the shore, so we escaped the cyclone. But we suffered the loss of
all our possessions including our fishing equipment and home. Since our village is quite away from the
city and the transportation and communication are not good, the relief groups couldn’t easily arrive in
our village. So the people in our village endured hunger and famine.
Q: Did you get any support from the government or NGOs
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