Shortly after Cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy delta of Burma May 2nd two travel organizations that Generosity in Action has worked with for a number of years asked if we could collect funds for them to distribute to help the local people. We were happy to do so. [As of 6/30 we anticipate that further funds will go to repbuilding schools in the area and for plowing equipment as described in later reports.] Below you will find segments from emails received from them. Because of their candid comments I have chosen to not include their names. If you wish further information, please email me at duncan@GenerosityInAction.org

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Received June 24th

As I have informed manyy of you, I have already spent over $ 5,000 in advance for relief work against the commitments I received. This is due to the exigencies of the situation requiring urgent action to save lives.

We learn that after our 3rd mission on - 7/9 June , UN and its agencies and other humanitarian organizations and NGOs have been able to distribute relief items to the cyclone victims. They can reach more remote areas as UN sponsored helicoptors are also brought into the operation. So the relief work of individuals and groups for immediate emergency aid is no longer of pressing concern.

We understand most of the people have received some kind of help. Yet sustainability is still the issue and this could only be addressed by UN and international organizations with their large resources.

I can say with all sincerity and forthrightness that a great potential man made disaster in the aftermath of the cyclone is averted because of the generosity and efforts of the people - both Burmese and Foreigners like you and the monks -- right after the cyclone. And I am proud to say that together with GIA and the donors we played a role in that positive contribution.

From now on depending on the contributions we receive, we shall concertrate more on helping rehabilation & reconstruction work. Donating for a new school building is being considered.

For the 3rd mission - 7-9 June 08,
This Mission Three we dedicate to GIA and to the three of you. [ed. I have left off the specific names.]

We also received a contribution from other locals for 200 mosquito nets.

Pl Note. Click here to review data furnished by the UN affiliated office and the 5 villages reached by Mission 3 highlighted in Green. Villages highlighted in Blue are villages reached by our First Mission of 24/25 May. This data was based on the first data but amended by UNDP to reflect the changes in population at some villages because people shifted from place to place in search of better survival conditions.
Attached also some downsized photos from Mission 3.

This is the report by the team leader.
Time Cyclone Relief
Mission III
07-09 June 2008

Our team of 4 volunteers left Yangon by car at 11:30 P.M on Sat 07 June and arrived Bogale at 5:30 A.M next day. All the items except rice to be donated have been already sent to Bogale. At Bogale 1 local volunteer who was working for UNDP and 2 others joined us. The UNDP employee also suffered loss of home and everything he owned. But luckily all in his family survived although many deaths among his relatives.

Upon reaching Bogale we went to their office directly and discussed the suitable villages to donate and we transferred the goods as requested by the local people which already arrived their office to the motor boat hired by our local friends. Rice bags were already on the boat as we transferred money in advance and which is available in Bogale. This arrangement saves money as transportation costs are very high. The goods except rice and salt which were sent to Bogale in advance are according to the information from the local people. This relief effort is done for the donations of Mrs Slavin and Barbara and Mrs. Paglia . This donation was pooled with other donations and action taken immediately because of the urgency of the situation in the cyclone hit areas.

This Mission 3 carried : -

-- Rice 50 bags of rice, at Ks 13,500 per bag,
-- Plastic roofing sheets 8’ x 100 yards x 8 rolls, at Ks 125,000 per roll

-- Salt 50 kilos total cost Ks 40,000.

-- 150 mosquito nets at Ks 6,200 each

-- (200) mosquito nets donated by other locals

-- Transportation costs by car + motorboat + labor + others – Ks 300,000

(For this Mission, passenger boat transport was not possible as all tickets were taken by groups of monks who were going to Bogale like our relief mission. Riverine transport is much cheaper and easier.)

-- Exchange Rate $ 1 = K 1,140

-- We also took along 3 x 40 litres chlorine water treatment bottles donated by one of NGO groups here.

At 9 A.M on 08 June we left from Bogale for the villages. After 2 & ½ hours ride we arrived at the area where there are villages which have received very little. This information is gathered by the locals and they helped us get to really needy places.

We were able to reach 5 villages and distribute the relief goods.

Padamya Kone - 235 people (56 household) left after storm from original population 330 people (40 household). About 100 people dead during the storm. We donated 13 rice bags (2 weeks for each household) temporary roofing plastic sheet 8’ x 18’ each for 21 household (the rest of the household already got roofing) & 48 mosquito nets (21 Nets for the households which did not get the nets at all and 27 nets for the household which consists 4 people and above but they have already got one net. The result is every household consisting 4 people above will have 2 mosquito nets and every household under 4 people will have one mosquito net) and salt.

Pl. Note: About 100 dead at this village but number of households increased from 40 to 56 as other survivors from nearby villages came to live at this village, perhaps temporarily. Same with other villages.

Htone - 633 people (148 household) living after storm from original population 480 people as people from other damaged villages have moved to that village and population increased. 18 people dead during the storm. We donated 15 rice bags (1 week for each household) & temporary roofing plastic sheet 8’ x 18’ each for 22 households which did not get the roofing, 34 mosquito nets (2 Nets each for the 12 household which consisting 4 people and above which did not get the nets at all and one net each for 10 household which consists under 4 people. The result is every household consisting 4 people above will have 2 mosquito nets and every household under 4 people will have one mosquito net) and salt.

Aye Ywar - 355 people(80 household) living after storm from original population 260 people (64 household) as people from other damaged villages have moved to that village and population increased. 12 people dead during the storm and we donated 11 rice bags (1 week for all household), temporally roofing plastic sheet 8’ x 18’ each for 23 household which is left to get roofing, 135 mosquito nets (2 Nets each for the 55 household which consisting 4 people and above which did not get the nets at all and one net each for 25 household which consists under 4 people. The result is every household consisting 4 people above will have 2 mosquito nets and every household under 4 people will have one mosquito net) & salt.

Da Noone Chaung- 168 people (44 household) left after storm from original populating 208 people (52 household), 60 people dead during the storm and we donated 7 rice bags (1 week for all household). They have already received temporary roofing plastic sheet & 2 mosquito nets each for every household donated by NGOs.

Hnget Pyaw Chaung - 208 people (45 household) living after storm from original populating 198 people (38 household). No dead people listed. We donated 4 rice bags, temporally roofing plastic sheet 8’ x 18’ each for 17 household which is left to get roofing, 113 mosquito nets (2 nets each for every household and 3 nets each for 23 household which consisting 6 people and above) and salt.

In the evening on 08 June (about 5 PM) arrived back from the villages to Bogale and proceeded to Yangon by car. Arrived Yangon at 02 AM on 09 June.

Recorded by,
(TOL)

This is page 8. To read earlier emails, click here.
There are now multiple pages of reports from Burma.
This is page one. Click below to go to other pages.
Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7.
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These photos arrived with the report of June 24th.

This is page 7. To read earlier emails, click here.
Click here to go to page 2. received May 19th and 20th
To go to page 3 received May 21st
To go to page 4 received May 23
To go to page 5 received May 27 and May 29
To go to page 6 received June 8-10
To go to page 7 received June 16-18

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