Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Arakan Human Rights and Development Organisation
“Shweli”, had capsized and was almost completely submerged. Unfortunately, I heard that no support
or relief supplies were given to the survivors of the cyclone by either local government or the international
communities [i.e. INGOs].”
3.
Gender: Male Place of interview: Bazunphae Village, Mrauk-U Township
Age: 27 Date of interview: 1 September 2011
Profession: Monk Type of interview: Written
He recollects Cyclone Mala, which hit Arakan State in 2006:
“Cyclone Mala killed three members of the same family from my village, Bazunphae, in Mrauk-U
Township, in 2006, while they were fishing in the sea near the village of Krutchaikyunt in Mraybon
Township. They were Aung Sein Htwan (42) and his two sons: Sein Than Maung (20) and Nyi Nyi Chay
(18). In total, Aung Sein Htwan had 4 sons and 2 daughters, so the rest of the family members were
faced with poverty following the death of their father and brothers. Later his wife chose to become a
nun, due to the great sorrow she felt at the death of her husband and two sons. The remaining two sons
and two daughters were adopted by relatives.
There was no assistance from the government or NGOs to the family. But some well-wishers from my
village gave some support to the victims. At least 30 people died and there was widespread damage to
houses, fishing boats and nets in Krutchaikyunt Village, a fishing village where there are about 500
households. I don’t know exactly how many people died and how much damage was caused across the
whole of Arakan State by cyclone Mala, but I guess that there would be a lot of people killed and
significant damage to houses, farming animals and other infrastructure.”
4.
Gender: Male Place of interview: Ngarachai village, Pauktaw Township
Age: 35 Date of interview: 6 November 2010
Profession: Fisherman Type of interview: Video
Q: What about food now How do you manage to survive now
A: If we have donors, we have food. But it’s really difficult to get food without regular donors. We really
want to live and survive through our own work. There is no medicine at all; we don’t take any medicine
when we are ill.
Q: We heard that there is a clinic run by the government. Is that true
A: Yes, it’s true. But we are not well, even though we go to the clinic.
Q: You are not healthy now
A: I don’t feel very well now.
Q: What has caused your ill health
A: I don’t feel strong and healthy like before, as I have lost my appetite and don’t want to eat, drink, etc,
and feel some depression due to the cyclone.
Q: We heard that there are army doctors in this village. Is that true
A: Yes, it’s true. They often give some medicine and bottles of medicine, but they don’t do any vaccinations
if we go to the army clinic.
Q: What about your relations with them
A: Actually I’ve never gone there, and most of the villagers dared not go there. If we receive cash from
donors, we just buy medicine from the village shops.
5.
Gender: Male Place of Interview: Prumwun Village, Mraybon Township
Age: 47 Date of interview: First week of October 2011
Profession: Fisherman Type of interview: Written
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