Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Cyclone Giri: Two Years On
A: Yes of course we had many challenges while distributing relief items among the villages, due to
limited relief supplies. But our relief items were equally distributed among the villagers. One thing we
realized was that there were many USDP members organizing the cyclone victims in order to get support
for the elections, instead of distributing aid to the most in need and vulnerable. In my opinion, it’s a
kind of exploitation and bribe to the people in order to gain votes of support to the USDP. The problem
was that they didn’t provide any relief supplies to those who didn’t support them, and I think that is one
of the human rights violations committed.
Q: Could you please describe the present situation of villages, where you went for relief distribution
A: The situation has been still worse in the most affected villages in Mraybon and Kyaukphru townships
where we went to, as the most affected families didn’t get sufficient support as capital investment for the
rehabilitation of their broken livelihoods. So the youth from those townships have migrated to Yangon,
Kachin State and Thailand to find job opportunities there due to lack of employment in their homes.
Worse, there are many children who don’t have any proper schooling now, and middle and high school
drop-outs in the affected areas have increased. As a teacher, I have big worries for the future of the
children and youth in the affected areas. I’m really sorry that I couldn’t do anything for them, as I’m an
ordinary teacher whose livelihood depends on the tuition fees of the students.
Q: What do you want to say to the government and INGOs
A: As a government, they are fully responsible to support the affected families who are not still able to
rebuild their livelihoods. They should fully support the affected community in their efforts at rebuilding
agriculture and fishing. On the other hand, they should give more assistance to repair and rebuild the
schools and monasteries damaged during the cyclone, and also have more budget for the rural education
and healthcare. Moreover, they should encourage the INGOs to give more humanitarian assistance to
the communities most affected and vulnerable in terms of rehabilitating agriculture and fishing, as well
as rural education and healthcare.
6.
Name: Aung Htwan Hla
Gender: Male Place of Interview: Prumwun Village, Mraybon
Township
Age: 48 Date of interview: October 15, 2012
Profession: Chairperson of Prumwun Village Type of interview: Video
Q: Was your village affected by the Cyclone Giri
A: Yes my village, Prumwun was the most affected one in all of villages in Mraybon Township. Before
the Cyclone Giri, there were about 400 households in my village. But there were only 17 houses that
were also half damaged left after the cyclone. About 70 villagers died during the cyclone while they
were fishing in the sea. All fishing equipment including fishing boats and nets, and also all plantation
gardens were destroyed.
Q: What is the current situation of the villages’ livelihoods
A: In my village, there are about 3,000 people from whom over 2,000 people are very much facing even
their daily survival. There now costs 16,000 (US$ 15) Kyat for one sack of rice. So the people in my
village are hand-to-mouth without having enough rice for daily survival of the long term. To make
matters worse, there will be more difficulties in the rainy reason that is approaching now: more people
who were survived would die after the after cyclone.
Q: What are the current livelihoods of villagers
A: Before the cyclone, the villagers’ livelihoods were fishing in the sea, plantation gardening, etc. But
now there were no trees in the gardens, no fishing boats and nets were left. So the villagers have
borrowed money from some rich people of other villages and towns with some interest for the rebuilding
of the families livelihoods. But they have found it really difficult to return the money owed and interest,
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