Details of Donation Spent
& Items Distributed
1. What is your group's mission for the trip?
Our mission for this recce trip is to assess the ground conditions
following the Cyclone Nargis strike. Especially in the Delta area
where FFM has built a primary school to cater for kids from the
nearby villages since May 2007, exactly a year ago. The 2nd aim is
to deliver requested medicines for the cyclone victims, their total
weight of almost half a tonne directly to the worst-affected area.
We
are glad that this time is a full 100% success, being the first
civilian non-medical group to make it to Ground zero as well.
we were also relieved that only minor roof repair is required for
the school we sponsored, mainly because the building is made of
concrete structure. The 3 other schools nearby, which are not
concrete structure, were totally destroyed.
2. What did you see there?
We saw the massive scale of devastation left behind the route of the
Cyclone, spanning from Yangon city itself to the lower delta area
where the cyclone first made landfall in May 2nd. The remnants left
behind by the storm surge of up to 14 feet at near delta area, was
still visible on top of the trees and poles. Most of the buildings
are without roof now, after being ripped off by the uplift forces
of the cyclone. Large number of village homes are totally destroyed,
forcing the victims to seek shelter in nearby monasteries, where
available. For those in deeper remote delta area, we saw the
villagers move themselves closer to the local highway. Erect
temporary sheds to house their entire family with young children,
hoping and waiting for intermittent food aids from local groups to
arrive.
3. How was your feeling?
The
monsoon season which started early this year, worsen the already
poor condition, with intermitten rains while we were there. On one
hand, we felt very sad from the witness of this massive sufferings
of poor farmers & their young children. At the same time, we were
moved and inspired by the resilience and spirits of the locals in
carrying on with their lives with however little things that
remains or were handed out to them, maintaining their self-respect
and dignity. When we came down to walk at one point of our
journey, the villagers bowed respectfully to the monks who accompany
us,with their forehead fully touching the muddy ground. Truly
a moving sight, profoundly and remain etched vividly in my mind!
4.
What is your group's plan?
For immediate relief,
beside the medicines, we have distributed almost 30 tonnes of food
comprises rice, dhal, onion, potato, etc to the worst affected
remote villages. Donation of food and clothing items collected in
Singapore will continue to be shipped over in container cargo.
For
rehabilitation stage,
the
most immediate task is to provide them with paddy seeds and diesel
fuel on time for the start of monsoon crops. This will help to put
them back on their feet and to work on the huge tract of field
lands. Most of their buffaloes are killed during the cyclone, hence
the need of diesel fuel for their small machines.
The
longer term plan is to help them rebuild the destroyed village
clinic as well as to rebuild 2 other new school buildings. We have
also initiated the Cyclone Orphans Adoption scheme, with an initial
target of 40 orphans to be provided for, with food, shelter, care
and education.
Our 2nd group of volunteers will be leaving for Myanmar in the 2nd
week of June for follow-up on all the relief and rehabilitation
plans described herein. Thank you.
Report prepared by Team 1 Group Leader:
Arnold LEE
VP of
Firefly Mission
Consultant Civil Engineer, Senior Manager, CDL
