May 16, 2008 (DVB), Around 80 cyclone victims in Kyakatkyikone village in Kongyankone township, Rangoon division, are still lacking food and shelter, according to a Rangoon resident who recently visited the village.
The resident told DVB in an interview that the villagers hadn't received any effective aid provision from local authorities although the storm had devastated their area about two weeks ago.
Rangoon resident: Most of the cyclone survivors in Kyakatkyikon village are now taking temporary shelter in a temple located at the centre of the village and some are staying with their relatives whose houses were not destroyed by the storm.
A rescue team from Kongyankone arrived in the village three days ago and provided those who are 70 years old and above with either five packs of coffee or two eggs on request. The team also distributed one pyi of rice (approximately four kilograms) and ten potatoes to each household that could show family registration. That's all what they got. Nothing else.
DVB: So how are these people surviving?
Rangoon resident: They are currently dependent on the small amounts of rice donated by other people in the village. They don't have enough food to eat. They also need shelter but they don't have the money to fix the roofs of their houses. Their buffaloes and cows were killed by the storm so it is very unlikely that they will be able to resume their routine jobs this year.
DVB: How many cyclone victims are there in the village?
Rangoon resident: About 80.
DVB: Were all of their houses destroyed by the storm?
Rangoon resident: Yes. All of their houses were destroyed. They can no longer live in their houses.
DVB: So it seems like no effective relief work has taken place there?
Rangoon resident: That's right, there has been no effective relief work. As I said earlier, the rescue team from Kongyankone only distributed coffee, eggs, rice and potatoes.
DVB: What is the current health condition of villagers there?
Rangoon resident: Their health is fine, there is not much to worry about there. The current problem is that they don't have a place to live, clothes to wear, enough food to eat or clean water to drink.
DVB has also learnt that there are many more victims in a village located opposite Thonegwa village in the same township and only one medic with inadequate medical supplies is available for the whole area of 39 villages.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
