Dated: May 19, 2008 

PHI-AID Team left Yangon by car 05:00hrs on May 19, 2008. Arrived Pyapone approximately11:30hrs. Took 2 small motorized canoe to go up the TOO MYAUNG creek networked to Pyapon River. It must have been normally like an hour boat ride to a village, TOO MYAUNG from Pyapon. However it took us 2 to 3 fold of extra time after the storm Nargis.

Arrived at TOO MYAUNG village approx 1450hrs. It is another 30 minutes to get to the seashore from the village by motorized canoe. There are no roads from the village to the seashore. 

Although it is just one hour away by motorized canoe from Pyapon. It is far out inside in Zigzag tunnel. It is not easily accessible to the village. The monks at the town had informed the township authorities of the situation at TOO MYAUNG village but up till date there had not being any responses from the authorities. There were 2 monks and 3 young novices staying at the village monastery. The chief monk of the village astounds in wonder when he see us at first sight. “Moon rise in 15 days” exclaimed he.

As soon as we entered the TOO MYAUNG creek we immediately saw rotten carcasses of animals as well as fragments of human dead bodies. We can’t imagine that in two weeks, all must have been clear out. Instead, it exists or happens so.

It is difficult to walk inside the village because of fallen branches & trunks, destroyed footpaths and broken small bridges. A small temporary bamboo bridge is built spanning both sides for the creek to assist the movement of villagers. The height of this bridge was low and our motorized canoes could not pass underneath and the villagers had to help us to pass under the bridge. One canoe carrying some personnel and donations from PHI-AID was holed by a submerged log and all had to hastily get out and transfer to another canoe.

At the monastery which was being used as a temporary shelter by the villagers we saw elderly and sick people, babies among the many refugees. They are all being looked after by the monks at the monastery. Led by the monk, U Aw Darta who is also chief of the village the PHI-AID team distributed all relief items and was able to hold a customary religious ceremony to consecrate our donations together with the villagers.

 
The list of relief items donated by the PHI-AID is as follows:

 
1) 1500 pieces of various clothing including, men, women and child wear,

2) 300 packs of dried noodles, dried cakes/bread, biscuit tins, fried salted fish and fish paste, candles, cheroots(local rolled cigars),

3) 6 packets of rice each weigh 50 KG,

4) Anti-indigestion tablets, antiseptic ointments, mentholated spirit in bottles, anti-fungal and anti-skin sore lotions,

5) 100 yards of tarpaulin cloth for temporary rain-proofing.

We organized to have the villagers listened attentively to why PHI-AID had come to their village for the relief work and were very much grateful. The team also saw hepatitis victims, a polio victim, mentally handicapped people, stroke victims, speech-deficient children and many old people at the temporary relief shelter in the monastery compound. Most of the children under 5 years had skin sores and most are undernourished. 

Monks and villagers were very touched by the generosity of the PHI-AID team and all wished in the traditional Buddhist way. The villagers all came to the canoes to bade us farewell on our return. 

We were also very happy to see the villagers eat our donated foods right in front of our eyes and immediately wear our clothes. The villagers are living at the monastery in miserable conditions without any roof or walls to shelter from the driving rain.

 
LOCATION: TOO MYAUNG VILLAGE, PYAPONE TOWNSHIP, AYEYARWADY (IRRAWADDY) DIVISION

*Situation previous to the cyclone*

1) Total number of households: 168

2) Approximate population: over 400 persons

3) Educational establishment: One government primary school

4) Number of Monasteries: 1

5) Potable water sources for use: One pond for the village and one pond inside the monastery for the monks. The villagers say the ponds have water lilies so they are fresh water ponds

6) Number of toilets: one toilet inside the monastery for the monks (please note most villagers in Myanmar do not have own toilets but go to the nearest bush or stream for their toilets)

*Situation after the cyclone (19-05-08)*

1) Number of huts left standing:9 with all roofs and bamboo walls blown away

2) Current population: 250-300 approximate

3) About 30 corrugated galvanized iron roofing sheets from the school had been blown away.

4) Human casualties: 15 from the village

5) The monastery also lost about 25-30 corrugated galvanized iron roofing sheets.

6) Both the fresh water ponds are now polluted with sea water and unusable

7) The villagers are storing rain water in pots and pans to use as drinking water.

 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE VILLAGE

1) A potable water supply for drinking purposes(dredge or dig new ponds for daily use)

2) Hygienic toilets

3) A pond for general use ( to use for washing etc)

4) Building materials such as nails, corrugated galvanized iron roofing sheets. It is estimated that it will need about 500 corrugated galvanized iron roofing sheets to repair the damaged roofs at the school and the monastery.

5) Blankets, mosquito nets, water purification tablets, temporary waterproof shelters/tents, rice, primary medical care.

Reproted by

Frankie @ Nyi Nyi Naing

19 May 2008