A Myanmar aid worker
This blog is from an aid worker who has worked in Myanmar and wants to remain anonymous for fear of jeopardising his agency's operations in the country, which is also known as Burma.
Quake survivors celebrate new beginning
Author: A Myanmar aid worker
Happy Year of the Ox! It's a New Year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. For many of the survivors of last year's devastating Sichuan earthquake the holidays have been a chance to celebrate but also a time of mourning for those who lost loved ones.
The earthquake claimed over 80,000 lives and destroyed the homes of up to 10 million people. It was the world's 19th deadliest earthquake on record. But for many, the New Year has also been a chance to celebrate new beginnings.
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Author: A Myanmar aid worker
Happy Year of the Ox! It's a New Year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. For many of the survivors of last year's devastating Sichuan earthquake the holidays have been a chance to celebrate but also a time of mourning for those who lost loved ones.
The earthquake claimed over 80,000 lives and destroyed the homes of up to 10 million people. It was the world's 19th deadliest earthquake on record. But for many, the New Year has also been a chance to celebrate new beginnings.
...
"The junta is guilty of a crime against humanity"
Author: A Myanmar aid worker
Aid workers don't only provide relief goods, we have a duty to fight for the protection of the people we serve. All too often we are kept from speaking out against oppressive and corrupt governments in case we endanger ourselves, the project or the people we are assisting. I have just left Rangoon and can now talk openly of the worrying things I saw. I am an eyewitness to a terrible violation of human rights directed at victims of Cyclone Nargis by their own military government.
When I first arrived in Burma we were able to quickly organise a team of local volunteers and begin emergency food distributions. The first day we managed to get into the Irrawady Delta region, the area worst hit by the cyclone, and reach cut off communities using canoes to deliver rice, plastic containers and water purification tablets. This was a 'drop in the bucket' compared to what is needed but we were able to access victims nonetheless.
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Author: A Myanmar aid worker
Aid workers don't only provide relief goods, we have a duty to fight for the protection of the people we serve. All too often we are kept from speaking out against oppressive and corrupt governments in case we endanger ourselves, the project or the people we are assisting. I have just left Rangoon and can now talk openly of the worrying things I saw. I am an eyewitness to a terrible violation of human rights directed at victims of Cyclone Nargis by their own military government.
When I first arrived in Burma we were able to quickly organise a team of local volunteers and begin emergency food distributions. The first day we managed to get into the Irrawady Delta region, the area worst hit by the cyclone, and reach cut off communities using canoes to deliver rice, plastic containers and water purification tablets. This was a 'drop in the bucket' compared to what is needed but we were able to access victims nonetheless.
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