June 12, 2008

*Names have been changed to protect identities of the cyclone survivors

Yangon/Bangkok - The two sisters, Na Chu and Hnin, clung to coconut trees as they swayed with the ferocious winds that swept through their neighborhood. With her four-month-old baby in one hand and the coconut palm in the other, and with the help of her husband, Na Chu held on for dear life.

The tree didn't offer respite for long. The sisters watched in horror as their house collapsed and drifted down the Irrawaddy Delta, and rising water forced them to float amid the debris that was once their home.

"At 4 AM, when the water level started to decrease, we were able to start walking to higher ground," Hnin said through tears. In the hopes of reaching safety, Tin Sien struggled to walk while carrying his wife and baby girl. "After about 15 minutes of walking, my sister could no longer keep going. She died in her husband's arms," said Hnin.

Nargis slammed into the coastal nation the evening of May 2, killing as many as 200,000 people and displacing more than two million. Survivors are beginning to find some relief, and with it harrowing tales are shared.

Like many in Myanmar (Burma), the road to recovery will be long and arduous for Hnin, Tin Sien, his baby girl and the 240 people in their village who also lost their homes and livelihoods.

"It took a week for any aid to arrive," Hnin said. "We had to drink coconut juice before the rain started again. For food, we ate snacks which drifted along the river and walked to other villages to ask for rice."

Church World Service and Action by Churches Together International have been on the ground providing emergency relief with help from local partners since the early days following the cyclone. More than 700,000 cyclone survivors have received assistance from CWS and ACT thusfar.

CWS helps provide plastic sheets or tarpaulins, which can be used quickly and easily by people like Hnin for shelter in the critical first six months following a disaster. Hnin's village received 37 tarpaulins, which are commonly supported by a bamboo frame to create a makeshift hut.

The CWS/ACT local partner has provided tarpaulins for 142,050 people (28,410 households) in 332 villages throughout the cyclone-affected area.

The same CWS/ACT local partner distributed water baskets, so Hnin and Tin Sien could have a means to harvest rainwater. As of early June, the ACT/CWS implementing partner provided a total of 3,116 water baskets (with a capacity of 200 gallons each), along with water purification supplies. A steady source of potable water and a shelter mean Hnin's family can begin the process of recovery.

"Now, at least we can now keep our belongings under one roof, and we can now start our work again since we do not need to worry about shelter," Hnin said.

Contributions to CWS Cyclone Nargis response may be made by telephone at (800) 297-1516; by mailing a check to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips Street, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515; or through secure online contribution at: www.myanmarrecovery.org

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net