Children who survived the cyclone find food and shelter in Myaungmya. Pic: Sann Oo

DAYS after the powerful cyclone Nargis hit the Ayeyarwady delta region, the small town of Myaungmya, about a six-hour drive from Yangon, began to witness the effects as more than 20,000 refuges started to arrive.

Myaungmya itself was unscathed by the storm, which killed tens of thousands and destroyed towns and villages throughout the region.

“Most of the refugees taking shelter in our town come from the villages around Labutta, which was the worst-affected area. They were transported here by government ships and trucks after being rescued,” said a local resident.

The survivors came from more than 30 villages that were completely destroyed by the storm. There are 30 temporary camps in schools, monasteries and other public places in Myaungmya.

Though stunned by the influx, the residents of Myaungmya have rallied to help survivors who lost everything in the storm.

While individual donors are giving old clothes, food and medicines for the refugees, local organisations, teachers and students are busily helping to meet survivors’ needs.

“Two days after the cyclone hit, I went to Labutta to witness the damage and I was deeply touched by the scene. I then donated rice for the survivors there,” said U Nyar Naw, a monk at the monastery where about 700 refugees are now housed.

“When I arrived back at my monastery in Myaungmya, I saw that a refugee camp was being set up and survivors were beginning to arrive. Since then, I’ve been helping them as best I can,” the monk said.

“With support from the authorities and donors, we try to give them a full meal. When they arrived at the camp, most refugees were weak. Many had been injured while they drifted in flood water for two to three days without food and drinking water,” he said.

“Most of the time I am worrying about their feeding and health. We have to rush to cook their meals on time and to collect donations,” U Nyar Naw said.

“Today, we cooked six baskets of rice and 250 viss of fish for them, but that is not enough [1 viss equals 1.6 kilograms or 3.6 pounds]. So we cooked duck eggs for them as well. As the numbers of refugees are huge, individual donors play a crucial role, apart from government support,” he said.

Another volunteer, Ko Aung, said students were helping at the camp set up at their school, while the teachers collected and managed donated items.

“Most days we receive food donations. We’ve received plates, bowls, cups and old clothes for the refugees,” said Ko Aung, who is in his early twenties.

“Most people are injured and some are sick. And most are in shock from the effects of the cyclone, which took everything from them, including family members,” Ko Aung said.

“Existing toilets are not adequate for the thousands of survivors. The situation is starting to deteriorate and authorities and donors are pleading to build additional toilets in the camps,” said Ko Pyi Sone, another volunteer at the camp.

As Myaungmya has adequate water resources, provision of clean water is not a problem. And donor aid includes soap to help keep the camps free from disease.

The camp clinic is run by a retired nurse and two people who have some medical knowledge, with help from volunteers.

“As the town hospital is crowded with patients in serious condition, we are treating minor injuries,” a nurse said while dressing a woman’s injuries.

“We give daily medical care to the sick and weak. Some are afraid to come to the clinic so the student volunteers have to go and check around the rooms and ask them to come,” she said. A local church, organisations and individual donors provide medical supplies.