A Volunteer’s Diary
[Nargis Relief Story Part I – Response to the Disaster]
It is part of our culture for the young ones to visit elders, teachers and seniors, and pay them respect during Burmese New Year occasion and in religiously auspicious days. Elders, in turn, offer blessing to their patrons. They would sermon “may disasters and plagues upon thee be averted”. Carefree youngsters we, took no seriously of the words “disasters and plagues”, were nonetheless touched by the message of compassion. It is a lovely tradition indeed.
Our terrible experience of a disaster came before us when Cyclone Nargis struck Irrawaddy delta in 2nd May 2008. How can we human resist power of mother nature? Thanks to technology and inventions. Though we cannot prevent, in nowadays we are able to predict more accurately of coming storms, earthquakes and volcano eruptions. Yet ultimate responsibility still lines with human attentiveness to make use of technology and save life of fellow human beings. Sadly, in the case of Cyclone Nargis, disastrous situation became an unprecedented tragedy when irresponsible authorities not only failed to warn population in the delta region ahead of the coming storm but ridiculously denied aftermath rescue offers from global community. The world is at shock to witness the scale of destruction caused by Nargis and yet cool response by the Burmese junta.
As the world rushed to assemble relief missions to help cyclone victims, we the Sanay Dhamma Friends too swiftly worked to raise emergency funds (to top up existing monthly donated funds) and convened an urgent meeting in 10th May 2008 to discuss what best we shall donate for the victims and how quick our donation can reach out to affected region. By the time of our first Nargis meeting, we have raised over twelve thousand Singapore Dollars inclusive of Sanay Dhamma Friends’ regular contributions for March, April and May 2008.
[Nargis Relief Story Part II – Preparing for the Trip]
We had good news in the following week after our meeting. Ma Lwin Lwin Moe, one of our regular contributors in Singapore was travelling to Yangon and delta region in the weekend. I was also told that an aid convoy organized by her sister Ma Myo Myo is leaving tomorrow. I rang Ko Kyi Lin who was coordinating relief efforts in Myaungmya town where thousands of victims said to have sought refuge. Ko Kyi Lin said, “In fact, Myaungmya was not severely affected. Most victims here are from nearby town Bogalay. We have over 40,000 cyclone victims in about 30 camps here. We’ve got rice for them in government rations. But we need cloths… especially cloths for men who are the lone survivors. They have no cloths. We also need utensils, and sacs of iodized salt”. I promptly contacted Yangon to help us buy men cloths. By the end of the day, Ma Myo Myo bought cloths and utensils worth about 1 million Kyats on behalf of us and promised to bring with her convoy which is preparing to leave early next morning. I was also informed that my sister Ma Kyin Kyin, who usually managed and coordinated our aid works in Yangon would be joining the trip. Added bonus for us was generosity of retailers who topped-up our purchase with their own donations. Sahdu… Sahdu…Sahdu.
[Nargis Relief Story Part III – A Trip to Myaungmya Town]
Following from here are notes taken by my sister Ma Kyin Kyin during their trip to Myaungmya.
I learnt from Ma Myo Myo about their journey to Myaungmya tomorrow and Sanay Dhamma Friends joining the aid mission. I therefore organized to collect second-hand cloths from our neighbours and picked up about 7 bags by end of the day. We left for Myaungmya in 12th May 2008 morning 4 o’clock and reached there about late morning 11:30. Well, I don’t have to say roads are bumpy. Ma Myo Myo and her volunteers brought loads of cloths for all ages. Upon arrival, we first discussed with town residents over the urgent needs and aid receiving status etc so that we could list and prioritize camps to visit. We first visited camp number 24 which was set in a compound with two large warehouse buildings. The camp hosted over 4,500 victims whom mostly are transferees from other crowded camps. When we arrived, we saw a truckload of victims arrived as well. We were told that the camp was less frequented by donors due to its outskirts location. We also witnessed a group of volunteers handing food rations. We too handed out food and other items that we have brought. They did not have utensils so it was just nice that we brought plates, cups, and woks. Here let me brief you how things are distributed. First they asked everyone to get out of the building and let them in again one by one. Donors waited at building’s main door and passed food, cloths and other items to victims. This way we ensured that everyone got their ration and avoided chaos and being overwhelmed. I noticed there were sizeable number of women and children in the camp. We handed out some cash to those sick and elderly victims. Later we visited four more camps until 5:30 in the late afternoon. We handed over remaining goods to town elders and returned. We reached back Yangon pass midnight.
We saw other private volunteer groups camped in Myaungmya and providing aid and medical assistance. Famous actor Kyaw Thu’s group was among we met. I was saddened to see many victims suffered severe skin burns. They had hugged on to trees throughout the storm and barely survived but yet to receive proper medical treatment. One survivor from Laputta told me that 23 out of 26 workers in their rice mill perished in the storm, and the factory building was gone just leaving a boiler tank.
It appeared that Sanay Dhamma Friends’ first aid mission to Myaungmya was completed without much hindrance. Ma Myo Myo recounted one encounter. “A half-dressed soldier came up onboard once our convoy stopped at a camp. We could easily smell overwhelming alcohol stink from him. I asked him who he was, his duty-about and told him to get out off the truck. He then questioned me who I was. Someone standing next to me answered him that I was a donor. Anguish and discontent, the soldier got off the car and walked back to his officer. All of us were relieved that they left us undisturbed the rest of our journey”. Sahdu…Sahdu…Sahdu.
[Nargis Relief Story Part I – Response to the Disaster]
It is part of our culture for the young ones to visit elders, teachers and seniors, and pay them respect during Burmese New Year occasion and in religiously auspicious days. Elders, in turn, offer blessing to their patrons. They would sermon “may disasters and plagues upon thee be averted”. Carefree youngsters we, took no seriously of the words “disasters and plagues”, were nonetheless touched by the message of compassion. It is a lovely tradition indeed.
Our terrible experience of a disaster came before us when Cyclone Nargis struck Irrawaddy delta in 2nd May 2008. How can we human resist power of mother nature? Thanks to technology and inventions. Though we cannot prevent, in nowadays we are able to predict more accurately of coming storms, earthquakes and volcano eruptions. Yet ultimate responsibility still lines with human attentiveness to make use of technology and save life of fellow human beings. Sadly, in the case of Cyclone Nargis, disastrous situation became an unprecedented tragedy when irresponsible authorities not only failed to warn population in the delta region ahead of the coming storm but ridiculously denied aftermath rescue offers from global community. The world is at shock to witness the scale of destruction caused by Nargis and yet cool response by the Burmese junta.
As the world rushed to assemble relief missions to help cyclone victims, we the Sanay Dhamma Friends too swiftly worked to raise emergency funds (to top up existing monthly donated funds) and convened an urgent meeting in 10th May 2008 to discuss what best we shall donate for the victims and how quick our donation can reach out to affected region. By the time of our first Nargis meeting, we have raised over twelve thousand Singapore Dollars inclusive of Sanay Dhamma Friends’ regular contributions for March, April and May 2008.
[Nargis Relief Story Part II – Preparing for the Trip]
We had good news in the following week after our meeting. Ma Lwin Lwin Moe, one of our regular contributors in Singapore was travelling to Yangon and delta region in the weekend. I was also told that an aid convoy organized by her sister Ma Myo Myo is leaving tomorrow. I rang Ko Kyi Lin who was coordinating relief efforts in Myaungmya town where thousands of victims said to have sought refuge. Ko Kyi Lin said, “In fact, Myaungmya was not severely affected. Most victims here are from nearby town Bogalay. We have over 40,000 cyclone victims in about 30 camps here. We’ve got rice for them in government rations. But we need cloths… especially cloths for men who are the lone survivors. They have no cloths. We also need utensils, and sacs of iodized salt”. I promptly contacted Yangon to help us buy men cloths. By the end of the day, Ma Myo Myo bought cloths and utensils worth about 1 million Kyats on behalf of us and promised to bring with her convoy which is preparing to leave early next morning. I was also informed that my sister Ma Kyin Kyin, who usually managed and coordinated our aid works in Yangon would be joining the trip. Added bonus for us was generosity of retailers who topped-up our purchase with their own donations. Sahdu… Sahdu…Sahdu.
[Nargis Relief Story Part III – A Trip to Myaungmya Town]
Following from here are notes taken by my sister Ma Kyin Kyin during their trip to Myaungmya.
I learnt from Ma Myo Myo about their journey to Myaungmya tomorrow and Sanay Dhamma Friends joining the aid mission. I therefore organized to collect second-hand cloths from our neighbours and picked up about 7 bags by end of the day. We left for Myaungmya in 12th May 2008 morning 4 o’clock and reached there about late morning 11:30. Well, I don’t have to say roads are bumpy. Ma Myo Myo and her volunteers brought loads of cloths for all ages. Upon arrival, we first discussed with town residents over the urgent needs and aid receiving status etc so that we could list and prioritize camps to visit. We first visited camp number 24 which was set in a compound with two large warehouse buildings. The camp hosted over 4,500 victims whom mostly are transferees from other crowded camps. When we arrived, we saw a truckload of victims arrived as well. We were told that the camp was less frequented by donors due to its outskirts location. We also witnessed a group of volunteers handing food rations. We too handed out food and other items that we have brought. They did not have utensils so it was just nice that we brought plates, cups, and woks. Here let me brief you how things are distributed. First they asked everyone to get out of the building and let them in again one by one. Donors waited at building’s main door and passed food, cloths and other items to victims. This way we ensured that everyone got their ration and avoided chaos and being overwhelmed. I noticed there were sizeable number of women and children in the camp. We handed out some cash to those sick and elderly victims. Later we visited four more camps until 5:30 in the late afternoon. We handed over remaining goods to town elders and returned. We reached back Yangon pass midnight.
We saw other private volunteer groups camped in Myaungmya and providing aid and medical assistance. Famous actor Kyaw Thu’s group was among we met. I was saddened to see many victims suffered severe skin burns. They had hugged on to trees throughout the storm and barely survived but yet to receive proper medical treatment. One survivor from Laputta told me that 23 out of 26 workers in their rice mill perished in the storm, and the factory building was gone just leaving a boiler tank.
It appeared that Sanay Dhamma Friends’ first aid mission to Myaungmya was completed without much hindrance. Ma Myo Myo recounted one encounter. “A half-dressed soldier came up onboard once our convoy stopped at a camp. We could easily smell overwhelming alcohol stink from him. I asked him who he was, his duty-about and told him to get out off the truck. He then questioned me who I was. Someone standing next to me answered him that I was a donor. Anguish and discontent, the soldier got off the car and walked back to his officer. All of us were relieved that they left us undisturbed the rest of our journey”. Sahdu…Sahdu…Sahdu.
No comments:
Post a Comment