People in eastern Shan State are still fighting to recover from the devastation of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked the region in March.
And while the majority struggle to survive, several hundred families have migrated to Thailand seeking refuge or better job opportunities.
Pi Sam, a village headman from Tarlay Township, said that about 200 people from his town have gone to Thailand in the past two months.
“Few people can survive on government support,” he said. “Many have totally lost their homes, livelihoods and businesses. As a result, some have moved to Thailand.”
Although there are several NGOs offering support to the victims, observers say the relief effort is inadequate.
At least 150 people were killed in the March 24 earthquake that hit the region and was felt as far away as Bangkok. Some 90 villages in eastern Shan state were affected, especially around the towns of Tarlay and Mong Lin, and more than 3,000 people were left homeless.
According to a local source, the Burmese government has allocated one ton of timber and 450,000 kyat (US $576) to each family whose house was totally destroyed.
The compensation was much less than expected after local authorities had promised one million kyat per household in the wake of the tremor. The source said very few people received the promised amount.
Lone Aye, 62, from Tarlay, said he was a wealthy person before the incident. But since the earthquake destroyed his shop, his house and his properties, his life has “been reduced to zero,” he told The Irrawaddy.
He said he has four children, aged 21 to 27, all of whom have left Tarlay and gone to Thailand to find jobs. He said his daughter is working in a noodle shop while his sons are working on farms in Fang District in northern Thailand.
“My wife passed away on July 16,” he said. “I sent word to my children through my friends and contacts. I wanted my children to come to the funeral, but they did not have enough money to travel.
“Before, my children never had to worry about food or education or money,” he said. “But now they have to work like slaves. I'm afraid to say that I’m not a good father to them anymore.”
Maung Maung Khin, the head of the Disaster Management Division of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, said that his group could only offer support during the initial rescue operation. However, he said, they are still working on distribution and purification of drinking water.
He added that the any rehabilitation program is the responsibility of both the regional and central government.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Maung Maung Khin said, “We don’t have any information about the rehabilitation program. Neither do we have any mandate or instructions from the authorities to implement a rehabilitation program in that area.”
Nang Sein Aye, 56, lost her son in the disaster. She said that they can’t depend on the support of the government, and added that her daughters have gone to Thailand to work.
“I am getting old and I got injured in the earthquake,” she said. “My back is so bad that I can’t do anything. My daughter sent me money for medication, but I had to spend it on food.”
Following the disaster, India donated a package worth $1 million to assist relief and rehabilitation efforts. China donated $500,000, Thailand $100,000 and the Philippines $50,000.
From :Irrawaddy News Agency
And while the majority struggle to survive, several hundred families have migrated to Thailand seeking refuge or better job opportunities.
Pi Sam, a village headman from Tarlay Township, said that about 200 people from his town have gone to Thailand in the past two months.
“Few people can survive on government support,” he said. “Many have totally lost their homes, livelihoods and businesses. As a result, some have moved to Thailand.”
Although there are several NGOs offering support to the victims, observers say the relief effort is inadequate.
At least 150 people were killed in the March 24 earthquake that hit the region and was felt as far away as Bangkok. Some 90 villages in eastern Shan state were affected, especially around the towns of Tarlay and Mong Lin, and more than 3,000 people were left homeless.
According to a local source, the Burmese government has allocated one ton of timber and 450,000 kyat (US $576) to each family whose house was totally destroyed.
The compensation was much less than expected after local authorities had promised one million kyat per household in the wake of the tremor. The source said very few people received the promised amount.
Lone Aye, 62, from Tarlay, said he was a wealthy person before the incident. But since the earthquake destroyed his shop, his house and his properties, his life has “been reduced to zero,” he told The Irrawaddy.
He said he has four children, aged 21 to 27, all of whom have left Tarlay and gone to Thailand to find jobs. He said his daughter is working in a noodle shop while his sons are working on farms in Fang District in northern Thailand.
“My wife passed away on July 16,” he said. “I sent word to my children through my friends and contacts. I wanted my children to come to the funeral, but they did not have enough money to travel.
“Before, my children never had to worry about food or education or money,” he said. “But now they have to work like slaves. I'm afraid to say that I’m not a good father to them anymore.”
Maung Maung Khin, the head of the Disaster Management Division of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, said that his group could only offer support during the initial rescue operation. However, he said, they are still working on distribution and purification of drinking water.
He added that the any rehabilitation program is the responsibility of both the regional and central government.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Maung Maung Khin said, “We don’t have any information about the rehabilitation program. Neither do we have any mandate or instructions from the authorities to implement a rehabilitation program in that area.”
Nang Sein Aye, 56, lost her son in the disaster. She said that they can’t depend on the support of the government, and added that her daughters have gone to Thailand to work.
“I am getting old and I got injured in the earthquake,” she said. “My back is so bad that I can’t do anything. My daughter sent me money for medication, but I had to spend it on food.”
Following the disaster, India donated a package worth $1 million to assist relief and rehabilitation efforts. China donated $500,000, Thailand $100,000 and the Philippines $50,000.
From :Irrawaddy News Agency
