Burma Cyclone: Worst Disaster Within Living Memory

The Worst Disaster Within Living Memory

Smashed up houses, broken masts, giant trees strewn across the roads. The damages from the cyclone Nagris are visible everywhere in and around Rangoon, the capital of Burma, where almost 50 percent of all houses are overturned.

DanChurchAid's representative in Burma, Eva Pineda Hansen, reports that between 80 and 95 percent of all the houses in the slum areas and in the villages around the capital, have been razed to the ground.

"The Burmese are saying that this is the worst disaster they have experienced ever", reports DanChurchAid's representative after last weekends cyclone.

Ready to move in

Tens of thousands are in need of shelter. Power and water supply have been disconnected, and the price of food has multiplied since Saturday. But until now, there is very little help to be gained from the authorities, and the relief agencies do not know how to get their supplies in to the country, where everything is strictly controlled by the junta.

Relief Director in DanChurchAid, Lisa Henry, says "We are ready to move in with our supplies, just as soon as we get the go-ahead".

The population in the affected areas is desperate for help.

Eva Pineda Hansen reports "The people I have spoken to are angry at the lacking response from the government. At the same time, they are deeply worried at the prospect of heavy rain in the coming days, where a lot of people are left without a roof over their heads".

ENDS

Latest World News | Top World News | World Digest | Archives | RSS

© Scoop Media