Another powerful storm headed toward Myanmar’s cyclone-devastated delta on Wednesday and the U.N. warned that inadequate relief efforts could lead to a second wave of deaths among the estimated 2 million survivors, according to The Associated Press.
This will not only make it even harder to get to the worst-affect area but will also add on to the agony of the survivors.
“They are already weak,” said Pitt, the U.N. spokeswoman. A new storm will impact “people’s ability to survive and cope with what happened to them … this is terrible.”
Although the news of a second cyclone was not broadcast by Myanmar’s state-controlled media, Yangon residents picked up the news on foreign broadcasts and on the Internet.
“I prayed to the Lord Buddha, ‘please save us from another cyclone. Not just me but all of Myanmar,'” said Min Min, a rickshaw driver, whose house was destroyed in Cyclone Nargis. Min Min, his wife and three children now live on their wrecked premises under plastic sheets.
“Another cyclone will be a disaster because our relief center is already overcrowded. I am very worried,” said Tun Zaw, 68, another Yangon resident who is living in a government relief center.
The most frustrating thing is that soldiers have barred foreign aid workers from reaching cyclone survivors in the hardest-hit areas, but gave access to an International Red Cross representative who returned to Yangon on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
According to the agency’s country head, Bridget Gardner, the damages were extensive and large but also selflessness as survivors joined in the rescue efforts.
“People who have come here having lost their homes in rural areas have volunteered to work as first aiders. They are humanitarian heroes,” said Gardner.
Gardner’s team visited five locations in the Irrawaddy delta. In one of them, they saw 10,000 people living without shelter as rain tumbled from the sky.
“The town of Labutta is unrecognizable. I have been here before and now with the extent of the damage and the crowds of displaced people, it’s a different place,” Gardner was quoted as saying in a statement by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In Labutta and elsewhere she said volunteers were giving medical aid to hundreds of people a day even though “they have no homes to go back to when they finish.”It is truly an act of selflessness from the survivors.
Let us join our hands in prayer for the people of Myanmar and China in this difficult time and wish goodness upon them. Regardless of what religion you believe in, do include the people of Myanmar and China in your prayer everyday.
Ways you can help:
1. World Vision (Singapore)
2. Save the Children (Internatinal)
3. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (International)
4. The Salvation Army (International – Please remember to state where you want your donation to go to)
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This is unfair if another storm would hit Myanmar again. I will join you in your prayers…
Thank you Marlene, lets spread words around. Thank you.
BKs last blog post..Let Us Say a Little Prayer
cyclones and earthquakes, the human race is on its knees right now. it’s devastating, just watching the news brings tears to my eyes.
chloes last blog post..The Misanthrope
Chloe, I know what you mean. Join me by keeping the people of Myanmar and China in our prayer.
I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to go through all of that! My heart really goes out to all those people who one day had everything turned completely upside down.
Chelles last blog post..5 Tips For Having Sex as a Married Couple
Chelle, indeed it is unimaginable what the people is going through and yet they have shown selflessness in volunteering themselves in the rescue efforts. Truly admirable spirit!
Cyclone in Myanmar, earthquake in China, and within such short times too. Perhaps, there’s a message from Mother Nature? Anyway, prayers and words of hopes are the least we should contribute. In the mean time, perhaps we should have the belief that, stand united, we’ll be able to face any challenges. Salute to the rescue team and volunteers.
Buzzing Js last blog post..Nothing better to do
Buzzing J, united we will be able to face challenges. You are definitely right, salute to the rescus team and volunteers!
It is so sad what has happened in Burma…this website has a lot of posts from volunteer Burmese students and aid workers in Yangon and surrounding areas who are giving us their first-hand accounts both of they cyclone Nargis and of the aid work that they are doing. Really great to be able to read these accounts…
http://www.gitameit.com
Also it lists various other aid organizations that are currently on the ground giving all the help they can.
HellaDs last blog post..Trailer: Mouth of Babes
Hi HellaD, thanks for sharing that link. It is good to read something positive of the situation.
I give my thanks to all of you who help the Sichuan people in China. Thank you!
@ Beryl, it is the least we can do.