Hello everyone. My name is Daw Phyu Phyu Thant. I live in Dar Paing. I have been living in this village for more than twenty years. I am married. I have five children. My husband also works. He does casual labour. Before the first cyclone occurred, various organizations came to the village and made announcements. “We had to stay in a safe place. The water would rise, so we needed to take protective measures. They told us to take care of the children, so we went to the cyclone centre and stayed there.”
Some people did not believe it and thought it would not happen, so they did not go. Some were afraid and went. A cyclone centre was built in the Rakhine village of Thaik Chaung, where we live. We gathered and stayed there together. If we needed rice or other food, they provided it. I also saw they were given financial support and other assistance. It helped them live with peace of mind. After the cyclone hit, some people from one village could not get out, and because of that, they lost their lives. There are also villages near the coast. In some cases, the men did not leave their homes, and because they did not, the children and women were also injured. In some households, three out of four people living in one house died. But in our village, a total of only 45 people were injured. It was not a very large number. Out of those, only twenty-five people lost their lives. The government supplied food provisions and also provided pots, clothing, longyis, and all necessary items for their safety and security. They also provided tarpaulins. Everyone was given one each.
After giving those, they went back. The organizations came to the villages and collected lists of the necessary items. Regarding health matters, they listed everything that was needed and gave words of encouragement. I saw them collecting the lists and information. Concerning employment, the situation was not favourable. They did not give it to all the villagers. They only provided support to the poor and those who could not afford it. Food supplies such as rice, water, and medicines were included. The organizations also provided us. The government also provided support. In terms of food and living conditions, it was not just me, but all the villagers; nothing was really going well for anyone. We face concerns every day, and our work and jobs are not progressing as expected.
My name is Kaseim. I was born in Dar Paing and grew up in Dar Paing. I am 63 years old. I am a native of Dar Paing. I am married and have five children. I am employed in the fisheries sector. I catch fish at sea. Before Cyclone Mocha struck, the government came and repeatedly warned that the strong cyclone was going to hit. NGOs also came and informed us. Cyclone Mocha was going to hit, and it was going to be very severe. They repeatedly told us to go and stay at the Cyclone Shelter that we have here. Those who were not afraid stayed here. Those who were afraid went and stayed there. My family did not go. Other families went and stayed there. We remained at our residence. Individuals who went to the Centre and remained there before the cyclone were given rice, food and drinks when the cyclone hit.
Our village suffered a lot of damage because of Cyclone Mocha. There are many people (victims) in our village. They offered support in the form of rice, oil, and medicine. They also provided financial assistance to those whose homes and property were affected by the cyclone. The government assisted in the cleanup of the village. Additionally, we took the initiative to clean our own village. When the Thae Chaung bridge was damaged, people could not travel back and forth. Since they could not pass, the government came immediately and repaired it, so within one or two days, it was fixed, and people were able to travel again.
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar