Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
Q: What do you want to say to the government and INGOs
A: As a government, they should give enough support to the affected community of the Cyclone Giri.
On the other hand, they should encourage the INGOs to give more humanitarian assistance to the
victims of Cyclone Giri for their rebuilding efforts of broken livelihoods of rural folks. And also INGOs
themselves should support the affected community in their rehabilitation of broken livelihoods.
3.
Gender: Female Place of Interview: Mraybon Town, Arakan State
Age: 45 Date of interview: October 3, 2012
Profession: Hand-to-mouth
Type of interview: Written
Q: Was your family affected by Cyclone Giri
A: Yes, our house was totally damaged, and all our possessions and belongings were lost by the cyclone.
Q: Did you get any support for your family
A: Yes, we did get some assistance especially rice for a few weeks and some roofing materials, but we
didn’t get any big support to rebuild for our family of 7. Compared to some families from rural villages,
we received very little support, as we didn’t support the USDP in the elections. The problem is that we
supported our national party, the RNDP. So we were not equally distributed the relief items donated by
different donors including INGOs.
Q: How have you been surviving or supporting your family
A: Since our family livelihood was totally destroyed by the cyclone, we have had a lot of difficulties for
rebuilding our family livelihood, as we have received very little support from the government or INGOs.
There is no permanent job opportunity for me and for my other family members here is Mraybon Town.
So I could not send my children to school. Worse, my eldest son had to drop out from the high school to
help rebuilding of the family livelihood.
Q: Could you please explain current situation in the town
A: Most of the people affected more or less by Giri live hand-to-mouth, especially the people living in
the outskirt of the town, since they didn’t receive enough support for rebuilding their livelihoods.
Compared to the rural people, the Giri affected people from Mraybon Town received more support for
rebuilding of their broken livelihoods, but the assistance given is still very limited and are not equally
distributed by the USDP and local authorities. Only those who are members and close to the USDP
and local authorities have received more support for rebuilding their family livelihoods.
Q: Did you see or hear anything or any news of support for the schools and monasteries damaged by the
cyclone
A: Yes I heard that some assistance was given to rebuild some schools and monasteries that were badly
damaged, but most of the schools and monasteries have not been fully repaired or rebuilt yet, due to
limited and insufficient support. Worse, there are not enough teachers or learning materials, even
though some schools are fully rebuilt in the town and certain villages of Mraybon Township. That
mainly affects the primary education of the children in badly affected areas.
Q: What do you want to say to the government and INGOs regarding the current situation on the
rebuilding efforts of your family livelihoods and education as well as healthcare
A: In my opinion, the local government is fully responsible to support the affected community in the
aftermath of any natural disaster. On the other hand, they should encourage the INGOs to give more
humanitarian assistance to the victims of the disaster for their rebuilding efforts of broken livelihoods
especially in most affected and remote areas of rural villages. And also INGOs themselves should
support the affect community in their rehabilitation of broken livelihoods, education and healthcare.
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