Burma/Myanmar Cyclone one year on

Survivors of Burma/Myanmar’s worst cyclone in living memory are facing continuing hardship one year on, but needs are being met with the support of both local and international organisations.

Cyclone Nargis tore through the southwest of the country on 2nd and 3rd May last year, affecting 2.4 million people and leaving an estimated 140,000 dead or missing and wiping out much of the farming and fishing industries that enable people to survive in the Irrawaddy Delta.

CAFOD supporters spontaneously gave £300,000 to the Catholic aid agency at the time of the emergency. This money initially helped provide emergency food, water, blankets, shelter and medical supplies through our local partners. The remaining funds will contribute to the ongoing activities that are helping people rebuild their lives.

The worst hit area was the southern Irrawaddy Delta, the country’s main rice-growing area – inhabited by mostly poor farming families. It is here that among many varied projects, CAFOD, through our local church partners, is supporting small farmers gain access to loans, rice seed banks and buffaloes and cows for ploughing. They are also helping to replace small livestock and provide fisher-folk with boats and nets. Teachers are being trained and roads and bridges repaired so communities can regain access to markets and services.

CAFOD’s Regional Manager, Colette Fearon, said ‘Working through the church network and local partners ensured that the money reached those most in need. Cyclone survivors, clergy of all denominations, and volunteers from inside and outside the area worked side by side to respond to the disaster. The long-time presence of parish priests and their knowledge of their parishes has been invaluable in identifying the needs of communities.

‘The generous response from CAFOD supporters in England and Wales, our local partners and the affected communities themselves in pulling together during this traumatic time was and continues to be inspirational. It’s essential we build on this to ensure communities feel secure and prepared for any future natural disasters.

‘A year on from the disaster, many people are able to stand on their own two feet. It’s vital that we now support as many others as possible to be able to earn an income, live in good quality homes and access education for their children. Our local partners are giving them a helping hand to restart their farming and fishing activities so they can rebuild their lives and means of supporting themselves.’

Colette said ‘Whilst there have been challenges, there has been much recovery, which is giving the people some hope. It will be a very long process however, with already desperately poor people facing major hardship. However, the solidarity between communities is evident and CAFOD and our partners are in for the long haul.’

David Cross, CAFOD Diocesan Manager