Providing clean drinking water is part of the response. Photo: ACT International
Community-based organizations provide ongoing relief
Although many news agencies are reporting the troubles of aid organizations gaining access to and operating in Myanmar, the PDA-supported local organizations — as co-members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International —are providing water, food and temporary shelter through a network of local organizations.
PDA has provided $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds towards the $5 million ACT appeal that will help up to 1.3 million survivors of the May 2, 2008, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma).
“Aid is going out everyday, and local organizations are reaching thousands of people,” says an ACT member representative.
The representative explained that ACT member-supported local organizations are mobilizing hundreds of volunteers and are procuring relief goods locally in Yangon and in the Delta region. This is being accomplished through already established networks of community-based organizations that are members of the ACT global alliance.
The U.N. estimates that 2.4 million people were severely affected by the cyclone. “Few countries possess the capacity and resources to cope on its own with disasters of this magnitude,” expressed the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in a press conference following his visit to Myanmar (Burma) two days ago.
“Under difficult conditions, the Government of Myanmar and the people have put together a functioning relief program, together with the international community. But much, much more needs to be done. We need to show unity of purpose and act with a real sense of urgency,” Ban stated.
“The effects of the destruction are seen almost everywhere … But what is striking is the coping mechanisms of the Burmese people,” explains an ACT member representative. “The people are so calm and strong — even in the midst of tragedy — they still manage to smile. They are survivors. It’s the nature of their culture. They are mobilizing themselves to help their families and their communities,” added the representative.
As one component of ACT member responses, community-based organizations are sending teams of local doctors, nurses and students trained in psychosocial care to visit the shelters housing cyclone-affected families.
“There are fantastic human resources inside Burma and they are being mobilized,” said the representative.
An ACT member reported that one of its supported local organizations traveled five hours by boat to support families in remote villages that had not received any aid three weeks after the cyclone — illustrating the capacity of communities to help themselves.
“The conditions were very bad — people had nothing,” the local organization reported. “The pond they normally use to collect drinking water in the rainy season has turned into slime. It has been filled with salt water and all the water lilies have died. Now, we are trying to clean it up, but with the lack of diesel and water pumps, it is difficult,” the local organization concluded.
ACT members plan to provide safe water to communities through the rehabilitation of 5,000 water points. Other planned assistance includes emergency shelter for up to 340,000 people along with at least ten days of food aid for up to 68,000 people. Members are also planning distribution of non-food items for up to 112,000 people.
“People want to get back on their feet and they want to plant seeds for the second harvest,” said an ACT member representative. “Farmers only have six weeks for planting. They need seeds, small tractors, livestock and fertilizer. Our goal is for people to return home and to be able to plant their first crop.”
“This is an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe — and the opportunity (for cyclone survivors) to plan for the future is being eroded day by day,” said the representative. “Despite the enormity of devastation, the people of Myanmar are showing their strength and resilience, and are working to restore a future with hope,” said an ACT member representative. |
