In Myanmar's cyclone zone, survivors seek refuge

© UNICEF video

Ma Su Su (not her real name) lost her husband and her daughter when Cyclone Nargis struck south-western Myanmar. 

PYAPON (May 15, 2008)—Ma Su Su (not her real name) and her three-year-old daughter can't think much about the future beyond their immediate needs.

Since Cyclone Nargis swept across the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar almost two weeks ago, Ma and 3,000 other survivors of the storm have sought refuge at Leikkukone Pagoda in Pyapon township.

She has terrible memories of the storm that claimed the lives of her husband and her younger daughter on the little girl's first birthday.

"We all fell into the water"

"Our house quickly fell apart and washed away," Ma recalled. "We tried to run to higher ground. But we were hit by pieces of broken houses and trees. I was holding both daughters. We all fell into the water."

"My daughter tumbled from my arms and the water took her away from us," she continued. "My husband tried to swim after her. I never saw him again."

The pagoda was one of the few places of refuge on the night of the storm and has since been providing shelter ever since.

© UNICEF/HQ08-0424

UNICEF workers offload 550 boxes of basic family water kits at Yangon airport. Each kit is designed to meet safe water and sanitation needs for 10 families. 

Emergency supplies

"Although there is not enough for all people, we shared what we have," the Venerable A. Shin Nandamarlar said, referring to the situation in the pagoda. "At first, there were about 3,500 people. Later, some went back to their villages in search of their separated families, so now there are only 3,000 at my monastery. Some only come back for night shelter."

Although township authorities have been distributing some food, survivors say it remains insufficient to meet their need. Working with the Myanmar Red Cross, UNICEF has been rushing some emergency supplies to the cyclone-affected communities—including water-purification tablets, oral rehydration salts to treat diarrheal dehydration, first aid kits, essential drugs, tarpaulins for shelter and other basic living items.

And more supplies are on their way, as UNICEF is focuses its effort on the hardest-hit townships where the needs are the greatest.

© UNICEF video

Cyclone-affected children and families take refuge at Leikkukone Pagoda in Pyapon township, Myanmar. 

Reluctant to leave

In the first week of the cyclone disaster, there were 45 temporary settlements where more than 17,000 people sought shelter in Pyapon township. Authorities have asked those at the monastery to move to a government shelter in another township.

But having made a few friendships among other female survivors, Ma is reluctant to leave.

"The survivors here are struggling to find food and water to drink," she said. "We are suffering. We have lost the people we loved and all our possessions. All I have now is my daughter. People say you survived the disaster, but at present, surviving the disaster has become a disaster."

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