Cyclone Giri - Two Years On - Burma Action Ireland

Arakan Human Rights and Development Organisation
as the catch of fish is too low. So some people cut trees as firewood and sell them in the villages and
towns. So almost all of the villagers are still hand-to-mouths now.
Q: Did the relief workers groups arrive in this village
A: Yes some relief groups arrived in our village, but they all left since May 2010. So there have been no
relief groups/ NGOs since after May 2010.
Q: What is current situation of education for the students Is there any school in your village
A: There is one primary school donated by the NGOs in our village and there are about 400 students
now. But the parents have found it really difficult to be able to buy stationery, umbrellas and walking
boots to protect against the rainy season, etc. for their children. There are now 70 middle school
students. But there is no middle school in our village, so the primary and middle school students are
mixed and have to study together in the existing primary school.
Q: Is there any enough health care to the villagers
A: For the healthcare of the villagers, there is one nurse provided from Mraybon Town. But I don’t think
she is able to treat those who are infected and transmitted with malaria and other infected diseases.
7.
Gender: Female Place of Interview: Mae Sot
Age: 23 Date of interview: 28 April 2012
Profession: Migrant worker in Thailand
Type of interview: Audio
Q: Where are you from and what was your job when you were in Arakan/Burma
A: I’m from Khaunglaung Chaung Village in Marmbra Township. Before I came to Thailand, I didn’t
have any permanent job: I just helped my family after my graduation of middle school (8 th standard).
Q: When and why did you come to Thailand
A: I arrived in Thailand in March 2011. I came to Thailand because all our family businesses including
agricultural farming were gone by the Cyclone Giri. So we didn’t have anything to do as the family
businesses, and so my family had to face lots of difficulties in food, accommodation, etc. And it was
really difficult to get a job after the cyclone and so I left for Thailand to find good opportunity of job to
help the family.
Q: Can you explain your experience of Cyclone Giri
A: Most of the houses including our home were destroyed and all the agricultural farming, shrimp
farms were also damaged in our village. So many people had to face hunger and famine, and became
homeless and jobless.
Q: Were there any relief supplies in your village
A: Some relief supplies were distributed in our village for the emergency relief phase, but very limited.
The relief groups were not able to support the capital investment for the rehabilitation of our businesses
including farming and fishing equipment damaged. Of course some people received some support of
capital investment, but they were the supporters of the government party, USDP. It is really difficult for
many of the villagers to be able to rebuild their broken family livelihoods without any assistance from
the government or INGOs. And they have had no other alternative businesses to be created. So many
people in villages are sill having much difficulty in rebuilding their family livelihoods to normal
Q: What is the current situation of your village
A: Most of the villagers are still facing much difficulty in their food, health care, education of their
children and so on due to losses of their main families’ businesses that led to many villagers jobless.
The rice production is not still good due to being submerged by the salt water during the cyclone. The
rice harvested and received from the many acres of paddy fields didn’t cover the needs of many families
in terms of food, health care, education, etc. that has been leading to the migration of many youth
including myself from our village to Thailand. There are approximately 25 youth who are working as
migrant workers in different parts of Thailand from our village alone. And there are many other hundreds
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