Many generations of Buddhist nuns have lived in the Sagaing hill, which is home to many pagodas and monasteries, across the Irrawaddy River from the city of Mandalay.
Thila Sari, 46, is one of them. She has been a nun for 36 years. Fifty-six Buddhist nuns of all ages live with her at the Thutetha Buddhist Nun School, located 80 miles (130 km) east of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa and 7 miles (11 km) from Mandalay.
“Fourteen nuns died and one nun lost a leg during the [March 28] earthquake,” Thila Sari told DVB, referring to the quake over seven months ago as a “nightmare.”
After the earthquake, some nuns from the school returned to their hometowns and villages. But Thila Sari, who has no home or family to return to, decided to stay at the school, and help rebuild.
A total of 696 people were killed and 688 were injured during the quake in Sagaing, according to DVB data. At least 4,477 people were killed nationwide with 2,916 bodies recovered by rescuers since March 28 in neighbouring Mandalay alone.
“We, including other nun schools in the Sagaing hills received small donations. So, we have no choice but continue living in temporary shelters,” a nun at the school told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
The 56 nuns at Thutetha Buddhist Nun School are hoping to receive assistance to rebuild their damaged school.
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Originally written in Burmese by Chit Mon (DVB).
