Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
groups sponsored by local businessmen offered any help. However, even under the new civilian
government, help by civilians is still at their own peril: after Cyclone Nargis dozens were arrested, and
remain in jail, because the government saw their help as undermining state operations. 364
The authorities also closely monitored any relief for victims. For instance, in Pakokku those who wanted
to donate were required to notify officials one day prior, giving information about the content and
amount of material they were giving to the donation centre in ‘Thiwatha Rama monastery’. 365
Apart from the government’s attitude, other parallels with Giri relief and the flood situation include little
to no media exposure, the lack of vocal support and assistance by non-Arakanese organisations or
parties, and the fact that the citizens affected had been ignored and essentially let down by the international
community:
Lack of media exposure – there are good reasons for the lack of coverage - in Pakokku,
Magway Region, a DVB reporter reported that officials in relief areas had warned journalists
not to photograph the damage, and were seen confiscating memory cards from cameras “but
they returned cameras. They also asked you to delete photos”. 366 It seems that the Government
wishes to keep the situation private so as not to show the conditions people are living in.
After Cyclone Nargis in 2008, some journalists had been given lengthy prison sentences for
documenting the ghastly aftermath which demonstrated the government’s incompetency to
manage the disaster. 367
Lack of political support - the NLD explained that they could not provide much assistance
due to the difficulty in finding sufficient financial resources and communication with the
affected areas. They were providing education assistance in suburban townships in Rangoon
but did assign the local NLD offices to provide as much assistance as possible to the flood
victims. The local authorities and other parties had not provided assistance, and even harassed
the NLD by questioning and prohibiting them to give assistance. Some local social networks
and organisations were assisting the victims, but in most places it had been inadequate; 368
Lack of shelter - after Giri struck, the first priority should have been to rebuild what was
absolutely necessary to prevent a next disaster when the subsequent monsoon hit, some eight
months later. However, more than 100,000 cyclone survivors had to suffer the worst monsoon
for decades without a solid roof over their head due to funding shortages; 369
Unfinished embankment repair: 45% of the embankment was damaged 370 and after 6 months
it was 193 km short of target to be repaired “before the rainy season in order to increase
preparedness capacity for future disaster”; 371
Substandard dyke repair - on the islands dykes were restored with the help of a few (I)NGOs,
some paid the workers, others did not, 372 but many were not sufficiently solid as they broke
again during the heavy rains in July, hence, the farmers on the islands could not cultivate
paddy farming this season; 373
No international flood relief fund - in June 2010 $13,261,143 in emergency flood relief
assistance was donated to North Arakan’s three townships, 374 for the 2011 flooding in South
Arakan there was no flood relief fund.
6.3 Starvation and Water Shortages
“There is another reason for the starvation, because there is not any relief from NGOs currently
for cyclone-affected people in the area. Even though NGOs provided rice and other goods to
cyclone victims over the last few months, NGOs have now stopped relief to the villagers. This is
the main reason for the starvation.” (Ko Khain Lin, a social worker in Mraybon)
“Villagers Hit Hardest by Cyclone Giri Face Starvation” 375
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