Report of getting Aid to Remote Villages in Burma
Posted on May 27th, 2008
by 
Hella D
Hella D
FOLLOW UP OF Bogalay Donation trip from May 24 to May 25 (2 days/2 nights)
Dear friends,
after our first trip to some villages on Sunday, May 18, we got so much feed back that we could and will further continue to supply the people in need. WITHOUT YOU many would have been starving to death. We were told from all the villagers to tell everybody so many thanks and how grateful they were. (Aid Group) was not stopped by a road block, but were advised not to stop on the road to feed the people - hundreds just sitting under their umbrellas and waiting for help. Many people threw food out of the cars and this can cause accidents as the people just run and try to catch what they can. The drivers have to be very careful when they drive in order not to kill the survivors. The traveling time to Bogalay Town took 7 1/2 hrs where the (Aid Group) staff slept in a simple guesthouse.
Early Sunday morning they continued their trip with 70 packs of rice/some oil, water, peas and potatoes, oranges, candles and lighters, chili and garlic and soap and clothing.
Village 1 HTEIN CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 500 - now 150)
it is a 2:30 hrs boat ride -
Village 2 - NGET CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 500 - now 121)
another 45 minutes by by boat. THE REMAINING POPULATION OF THIS VILLAGE WAS ABOUT TO DIE OF STARVATION - FIRST TIME HELP AFTER 23 DAYS
Village 3 - BON CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 700 - now 115)
another 1:30 minutes by boat
Village 4 - PA DE CAW VILLAGE (former population of 1000 - now 146)
another 1:30 minutes
Village 5 - MAE DAW SU VILLAGE (former population 2000 - now 452)
another 1:15 minutes
All the 5 villages got food supply for appr. 13 days.
Village 01, 03, 04 villages were lucky as we were a second time donor.
Whereas village 2 got the first time help after the cyclone hit this area. They were running out of their daily tiny food portion and had only a small amount left for two more days.
Village 3 and 5 had almost nothing left, only the remaining food from the monk who could not even give it to all of the people. The boat ride along the river was dreadful - the boatman was very careful as they didn't want to get caught by crocodiles. We were told that many people also died of snake bites. The people desperately try to clean up the mess but they said the bodies are still floating from all over and then get stuck again somewhere near their village. Life is as good as unbearable there. We were further told that some people from refugee camps are being sent home, a home which does not exist.
The blue loudspeaker at village 3 was just being installed when (Aid Group) arrived. Not the WELCOME for (Aid Group) arrival, but the request for finalizing the referendum. The officials came with one blue loudspeaker and one poll box. When my staff arrived with all the food nobody wanted to come and greet them because they thought it was again official, and they didn't know what else to expect. When they realized it was all private they were so happy and many cried. While the officials were still fixing the blue loudspeaker on the frame of the roof. There was no communication between the soldiers and the villagers. The remaining population of village 3 believed after 3 weeks that they were starving to death.
Some of the villages got some food from the soldiers (not village 3 though) but they were treated like prisoners, they were shouted as if it was their mistake what happened. The official helpers seemed to be annoyed to find themselve in such a disaster. There were many stories to tell and everyone was so relieved to see they were not forgotten.
They also got the message that the UN got green light for finally getting in foreign staff to support the survivors in the delta area. The monks are at the moment the news carrier. We were given more village names to support (the ones which have had no help since the cyclone) In 2 days another load will be going there with the aid of a private group.
(Aid Group) will leave coming Friday night again and come back early Monday morning.
They arrived today at 5 am in Yangon.
Thank you very much again for all your support and that you did not forget the people in Myanmar.
Dear friends,
after our first trip to some villages on Sunday, May 18, we got so much feed back that we could and will further continue to supply the people in need. WITHOUT YOU many would have been starving to death. We were told from all the villagers to tell everybody so many thanks and how grateful they were. (Aid Group) was not stopped by a road block, but were advised not to stop on the road to feed the people - hundreds just sitting under their umbrellas and waiting for help. Many people threw food out of the cars and this can cause accidents as the people just run and try to catch what they can. The drivers have to be very careful when they drive in order not to kill the survivors. The traveling time to Bogalay Town took 7 1/2 hrs where the (Aid Group) staff slept in a simple guesthouse.
Early Sunday morning they continued their trip with 70 packs of rice/some oil, water, peas and potatoes, oranges, candles and lighters, chili and garlic and soap and clothing.
Village 1 HTEIN CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 500 - now 150)
it is a 2:30 hrs boat ride -
Village 2 - NGET CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 500 - now 121)
another 45 minutes by by boat. THE REMAINING POPULATION OF THIS VILLAGE WAS ABOUT TO DIE OF STARVATION - FIRST TIME HELP AFTER 23 DAYS
Village 3 - BON CHAUNG VILLAGE (former population 700 - now 115)
another 1:30 minutes by boat
Village 4 - PA DE CAW VILLAGE (former population of 1000 - now 146)
another 1:30 minutes
Village 5 - MAE DAW SU VILLAGE (former population 2000 - now 452)
another 1:15 minutes
All the 5 villages got food supply for appr. 13 days.
Village 01, 03, 04 villages were lucky as we were a second time donor.
Whereas village 2 got the first time help after the cyclone hit this area. They were running out of their daily tiny food portion and had only a small amount left for two more days.
Village 3 and 5 had almost nothing left, only the remaining food from the monk who could not even give it to all of the people. The boat ride along the river was dreadful - the boatman was very careful as they didn't want to get caught by crocodiles. We were told that many people also died of snake bites. The people desperately try to clean up the mess but they said the bodies are still floating from all over and then get stuck again somewhere near their village. Life is as good as unbearable there. We were further told that some people from refugee camps are being sent home, a home which does not exist.
The blue loudspeaker at village 3 was just being installed when (Aid Group) arrived. Not the WELCOME for (Aid Group) arrival, but the request for finalizing the referendum. The officials came with one blue loudspeaker and one poll box. When my staff arrived with all the food nobody wanted to come and greet them because they thought it was again official, and they didn't know what else to expect. When they realized it was all private they were so happy and many cried. While the officials were still fixing the blue loudspeaker on the frame of the roof. There was no communication between the soldiers and the villagers. The remaining population of village 3 believed after 3 weeks that they were starving to death.
Some of the villages got some food from the soldiers (not village 3 though) but they were treated like prisoners, they were shouted as if it was their mistake what happened. The official helpers seemed to be annoyed to find themselve in such a disaster. There were many stories to tell and everyone was so relieved to see they were not forgotten.
They also got the message that the UN got green light for finally getting in foreign staff to support the survivors in the delta area. The monks are at the moment the news carrier. We were given more village names to support (the ones which have had no help since the cyclone) In 2 days another load will be going there with the aid of a private group.
(Aid Group) will leave coming Friday night again and come back early Monday morning.
They arrived today at 5 am in Yangon.
Thank you very much again for all your support and that you did not forget the people in Myanmar.
Access: Public
aid
July 2008 
Hi!
I just came accross your blog, due to a link from “The Power of Light” pods we both belong to. Thank you for posting this, and the work that is getting done. I am honored to hear about what activites are on there way andI am inspired to do more, then I have because of it.
Peace
Claudia
Thanks for your comment. There is a lot being done. The people of Burma are very resiliant. They know how to help each other. In Burma a months salary is $20 if you are lucky. Therefore even if you can only donate $10 it will go a long way to help in Burma, but I suggest donating to the smaller organizations already operating in Burma from the start of the Cyclone. They are not spending money on overhead etc.