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| Relief Mission For Myanmar Cyclone
Victims |
When natural
disasters occur, the army and police force will organize
excavators and other rescue equipment to help survivors.
Helicopters and convoys are launched on search-and-rescue
missions. Paramedics and food supplies are parachuted
in. Temporary water systems, mobile clinics and food
distribution sites promptly established. Sad to say,
the scenerio in the aftermath of the May 2nd Myanmar
Cyclone disaster was rather different. The roads to
and within the Irrawaddy Delta were severely damaged,
preventing easy access to the inhabitants.
As a group, IDS was one of the earliest
to initiate relief funds towards this cause. Our chairman
Dr Victor Fung reacted spontaneously with a fund-raising
programme matching every $ of donation made within the
group with a $ of his own. Encouraged by his compassion
and generosity, the staff of IDS Malaysia
contributed significantly towards this fund, channeled
for immediate relief of the Cyclone victims. Direct
interaction and help from international Aid Workers
however, remained prohibited and obscure for weeks thereafter.
In mid-June, the Myanmar government finally opened its
door and granted permission to the Malaysian Relief
agency ‘Social Action Initative’ –
SAI to set up medical camps and to provide humanitarian
aid. This is where our Senior Manager – Medical,
S. Kiritharan (a member of the SAI) along with another
8 volunteers embarked on their mission to Myanmar. As
none of these volunteers have ever been to Myanmar and
news from mainstream media was nothing but negative,
the team knew they had to meet the challenges head-on
in this mercy mission.
Background
According to official figures, nearly 200,000
people were reported dead or missing in the aftermath
of the cyclone. The ‘Social Action Initiative’
organization (SAI) was informed that in some villages,
the population of 20,000 had been reduced to not more
than 500. Two million victims needed immediate help.
Thousands of temporary shelter needed to be set up.
Due the continuous monsoon rain that followed, access
to remote areas became even more problematic, this is
further aggravated by operational constraints imposed
by the government. Concerns over Cholera & Dysentery
outbreaks were very much valid due to the availability
of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities
and maintenance of basic hygiene. |
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Preparation
for Team Departure
With only less than 3 weeks before departing
to Yangon, Myanmar, Kiri and the team worked tirelessly
to gather food and essential supplies for the cyclone
victims whilst running around to obtain visa entry to
Myanmar. Another 30 or more caring Malaysians participated
actively to collect cash and kind through the different
organizations such as schools, religious bodies and
the general public. The cash was used to purchase medicine,
food, blankets and other essentials. A temporary warehouse
was set-up to collect, store, pack and later transport
the proceeds with the visiting team. The contribution
from Air Asia to transport the mission team along with
the cargo was deeply appreciated by the SAI organization.
Objectives and action plans were identified to ensure
full utilization of the one week visa issued. They were
to:-
- Deliver medicine, basic first-aid equipment and
tarpaulins
- Deliver 500 tons of ‘dry rations’
such as rice, noodles, biscuits etc. with another
1000 tons scheduled for delivery at a later date
- Supply clothes, sarongs, undergarments (30,000
bras collected), sanitary pads, slippers, mosquito
nets
- Engage a low-cost barge to transport the consignment
to the Delta region
- Organise local labour to assist in loading, unloading
and distribution
- Provide administrative assistance at the Mission
headquarters.
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Help Pouring From Various Donors
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Journey
to Yangon
To the team’s disappointment, the consignment
of supplies gathered in Malaysia was held up in Bangkok
due to certain procedural requirements by the Thai airport
authority and there was also no indication on how long
it would take to clear this hurdle before the cargo
could continue on its journey to Myanmar. With this
unexpected hiccup, it appeared that the team would have
to proceed without anything to distribute to the victims.
Kiri and the team then decided to utilize their own
funds to purchase some relief items locally to continue
the mission. Through this selfless act, the team managed
to accumulate USD3,000.00 and with that they bought
the replacement cargo to complete their journey.
The relief team finally arrived in Yangon, Myanmur with
items such as shirts, blouses, undergarments, slippers,
children’s clothes, plastic sheets, cooking utensils
and dry foodstuff for distribution. |
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Volunteers
Working Over Many Hours - Sorting And Packing Items
For Final Distribution |
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Journey
to Irrawaddy Delta
Throughout the journey, there were signs of
huge devastating destruction from the cyclone, only
a few villages were left standing. The devastation was
greater than anything CNN & other news media were
able to capture. Existing road systems had been washed
away, thus forcing our truck into an especially slow
and bumpy ride. The journey to the affected Delta took
a grueling 9 ½ hours. Upon arrival, the team
noticed that the locals were placed in large tents and
discovered that the cyclone victims had lost everything.
All they had left were the makeshift shelters and the
clothes that they were wearing. Without wasting any
time, Kiri and team set to work by handing out the bags
of supplies to the community leaders for distribution.
The General-in-command of the village informed the team
that 20 new villages would have to be rebuilt for these
people soon and the ‘SAI’ organization could,
with permission, undertake to manage one of these villages
which was envisioned to have 50 houses, one temple and
one school. As an immediate task, the SAI team pledged
support to rebuild the local school destroyed by the
cyclone. |
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Scenes Of Devastation
And Living Condition Of Cyclone Victims |
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Kiri & Children Of Village
Showing Rebuilt School |
End of trip
but not mission
With the school was successfully rebuilt, Kiri
stood proud to display the IDS banner which he had brought
with him. Deeply moved and inspired by Dr Victor Fung’s
caring act, Kiri was encouraged to devote his time and
energy to alleviate sufferings of these victims.
By his simple act of kindness, Kiri shows that in every
person, regardless of their situation or circumstances,
has something to offer to humanity. Every individual
has the capacity for caring and the capacity for working
in solidarity to alleviate human suffering and contribute
to human dignity. Therefore, I believe that we should
not only commemorate his efforts and actions, we should
be replicating and nurturing the very character that
he exemplifies.
While we submit this article to nominate Kiri for the
GMD Award which we strongly feel he is worthy of, Kiri
highlighted that though the trip to Myanmar is over
for him and the team, the mission has yet to end. More
aid is required to continue the rebuilding. Following
discussions with the Generals-in–charge and the
Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, a list of structures
has yet to be constructed, namely:-
- 50 units of resident houses (approx. USD1,500.00
each)
- 2 units of Schools (approx. USD5,500.00 each)
- 1 unit of Buddhist Temple (approx. USD2,500.00
each)
To date, various donors and organizations have pledged
USD55,000.00 of the total sum USD87,500.00 required.
This whole project is scheduled to be completed by mid-November
and S Kiritharan tirelessly continues to appeal for
support for the Cyclone victims of Myanmar. |
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