Burma's opposition appeals for more cyclone aid

by Salai Pi Pi
Thursday, 07 May 2009 22:27


New Delhi (Mizzima) – Detained Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s party the National League for Democracy (NLD) has called for more donations for Cyclone Nargis victims, who after a year still struggle for basic survival needs.



Ohn Kyaing, in-charge of NLD’s Nargis relief committee told Mizzima on Thursday despite the tremendous help provided by the international community, the need of cyclone victims remain with great challenges remaining in meeting the needs of shelter, water and rebuilding livelihoods.

“Though a lot of aid has come for Nargis survivors, their condition is still dire, as the extent of devastation by the cyclone is huge,” Ohn Kyaing said.

“We call on community based relief workers and the international agencies to provide more relief to address the problems they [cyclone survivors face now,” he said.

Cyclone Nargis, which lashed Burma’s Irrawaddy and Rangoon division on May 2-3, 2008, left about 140,000 people dead or missing and more than 2.4 million people homeless. The cyclone also killed domestic animals including buffalos and cows, damaged paddy fields, and flattened houses and schools.

NLD in a statement released on the anniversary of Nargis on Wednesday acknowledged that since the second week of the cyclone, governments across the world, the United Nations, international and domestic non-governmental organizations, the NLD, volunteer groups including the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and well-wishers from overseas and inside Burma had donated funds and other materials to assist the victims in emergency support as well as in reconstructing the lives of cyclone victims.

The NLD, however, said despite the efforts of both domestic and international humanitarian groups, the need remains large and thousands of victims continue to live in a precarious state with no proper shelter and are dependent on aid supplies.

“Though one year had elapsed the people in cyclone affected areas, particularly the Irrawaddy division, are continuing to face food shortage,” the NLD said.

The NLD is currently carrying out reconstruction and recovery projects in the cyclone affected areas, and has completed digging 104 water ponds and 20 wells for the people in Laputta town in the Irrawaddy delta, who are in desperate need of drinking water, Ohn Kyaing said.

“In the beginning, we went to the most affected areas in Bogale, Mawkyun, Pyapon, Dedaye and Laputta towns and gave food and other aid to the people,” Ohn Kyaing said.

“Later, we shifted our focus to the main affected areas of Laputta.”

The NLD said they had received about Kyat 140 million (USD 140,000) from mainly well-wishers from abroad and inside Burma, for the rescue and reconstruction work in affected areas.

However, Ohn Kyaing said, after a year, the donations for relief aid has gradually decreased though the need continues to be huge.

“We urge the people to contribute more for the recovery work for cyclone survivors,” he said.

Source: Mizzima News