03 December 2008

IN large parts of the world thoughts are beginning to turn towards Christmas and people are planning their shopping and decorating their houses. Sadly, in Myanmar (Burma) many people do not have a house to decorate, having lost everything when Cyclone Nargis battered the country in May. Half a year after the disaster, many people still live in temporary shelters under tarpaulins handed out by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The situation is terrible but there is hope for some people – every week more families receive construction material for their houses from The Salvation Army. So far, more than 700 families have been able to rebuild or repair their houses and the construction programme is still ongoing.

The latest report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA report) says that shelter and agriculture are the biggest concerns: 'Agriculture in particular continues to be the least-funded ... Precarious conditions of the emergency shelters are also of serious concern and support for more durable and safe solutions is called for.'

The Salvation Army is still distributing food in various areas until the end of the year. Nearly 5,000 families in 26 villages have received food items on a regular basis in the past few months, mainly rice and cooking oil.

 

 

A beneficiary takes away tools and seeds

Major Alison Thompson (UK Territory) gives out tools

Distributing corn seeds

It is now planting season in Myanmar and Salvation Army teams have distributed seeds in six villages, along with tools and fertilizer. More than 300 families have received the means to start their livelihoods again. The type of seeds given to each family – beans, gourds, corn, chillies or cucumber – depended on what the families used to plant before the cyclone.

Many families have expressed their happiness with the distributions. A village leader said: 'We have been through very difficult times and most of us have lost our livelihoods. The Salvation Army has provided food for us throughout these past months. But now it is time to stand on our own feet again and restart our livelihoods. The Salvation Army has provided the opportunity for that.'

Village leaders and members of the relief committees created after the cyclone volunteered to arrange transport, help put together beneficiary lists and assist with distributions. Transport of goods in these areas is precarious and many of the items had to be delivered by river boat.

'As a leader of my village I promise we’ll do our best to plant and harvest,' one of the volunteers said.

The Salvation Army workers in Myanmar are proud of the local people's willingness to work hard and touched by their determination to take responsibility for their own lives again. But there are things that are beyond their power. The plea from the members of the international team in charge of the relief operation is that we continue to keep the people of Myanmar in our thoughts and prayers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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