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NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (Liberated Area)

Nargis Story in Burma

Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis

On May 3, 2008 Cyclone Nargis struck the southwest coast of Burma with up to 120-mile an
hour winds and rain. Myanmar authorities declared three Divisions and Two states, with an
estimated total population of 24 million, to be in a state of emergency.

Throughout the Irrawaddy Delta region, many villages were devastated, with hundreds of
thousands dead, their homes destroyed, and more than 3,000 schools damaged. The UN
estimates that some 1.5 million to 2.5 million survivors are in need of food, water, shelter, and
medical care.

National League for Democracy (Liberated Area)

News Release - May 5, 2008
Emergency situation in Rangoon

Because of the Cyclone called Nargis of 190 km (120 mile) per hour, ripped through
Irrawaddy delta and hit Rangoon on the night of Friday, 90 percent of big trees and electricity
poles have fallen down and electricity was cut off. From Friday night on, there was totally
black out at night in Rangoon. Water distribution system also damaged causing Rangoon
suffering from water shortage. Transportation was also affected due to trees blocking road and
streets. Motor high way and rail ways stopped their function. Trains coming from Pegu
division had to stop at Hmaw Bi as they couldn't go forward Rangoon.

As there is no electricity, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cannot be bought for public
transportation vehicles. Gasoline price jumped up from 5000 kyat to 1,500 kyat per gallon.
Only today, some public transportation buses can start their routine. Bus fares are 300 kyat for
one or two bus stops and 500 or 1000 kyat for further places depending on distance; for
example, 500 kyat from Shwepyi Thar Township to Insein Township, 500 kyat from Bahan
Township to downtown and 1500 kyat from Okkalapa Township to downtown. It is said that a
people started walking from his home in Hlaingtharyar at 8 o'clock a.m. and arrived to
downtown at 6 p.m. Hlaingtharyar. Commodity prices also rise up; 1000 kyat for 3 duck eggs,
500 kyat for small bottled water, even 1000 kyat in some places. No shop is selling rice. All
departmental stores were closed down fearing loot.

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Some restaurants opened at first, but closed down due to lack of raw materials. There were
some robberies in Thaketa, Dala, Botataung, and Kyeemyindine, township. Last night, it was
reported that Nyaungbin Lay market was looted. Kyeemyinedine Night bazaar was also
threatened so people from nearby quarters had to guard the bazaar. There was a robbery in
Thein Byu market also. A mob in South Dagon attempted to loot some shops as there is
nothing to eat or drink.

If there is no emergency assistance for drinking water, there will be a great trouble for people.
Although people broke water pipe line, there is no water coming in the pipe line. People in the
living quarters broke water pipe for extinguishing fire and distribute water among them.
In some place near down town, water from water well was taken and distributed to people
living in the quarter. At that time, people from other places came by car and attempted to take
water by pumps and clashes broke out.

The hard hit areas of the storm were Hlaingthar Yar, Shwepyithar, North and South Dagon,
Dala and Seikkyi Khanaungto Townships. In Hlaingtharyar, roofs from the factories ripped off
and small houses in shanty town were gone with the wind. People had to live in monasteries
for emergency shelter. Most of them had no food and shelter at all after the storm. Some
houses near North Dagon were fallen down and remaining houses were flooded in the water.

All hospitals private and public cannot provide service so that most of patients were forced to
discharge from hospitals such as Shwegondine Specialist Clinic, Asia Tawwin, Sakura in
Sanchaung, etc. It was reported that roofs of Shwegondine Specialist Clinic flew away during
storm and water came in from elevator way. Side pagodas in Shwedagon pagoda were severely
damaged and than umbrella of Naung Taw Gyi pagoda fell down. Kyaw Thun pagoda, Chauk
Htat Kyee and Koe Htat Kyee pagodas also damaged. Stair ways of Sule pagoda were also
damaged and umbrella of the pagoda also smashed. All pagodas in Rangoon were closed
down. At Rangoon quaysides and jetties, some ships were sunk. Thila War jetty is one of the
hard hit and cranes and some machinery were damaged there.

Roofs of markets in down town Rangoon ripped off and closed down for security and
renovation. Small vendors in alleys sell food and meat. Cooking oil cannot be bought. No
vegetable is available. The price for pork soars up to 8000 to 10000 kyat per one viss. It is
1500 kyat for a packet of candle, but not available. Prices for iron nail for roofing rise up from
3000 kyat to 3000 kyat per one viss. Price for one roofing sheet rises up to 15000 per sheet.

It is reported that there were some casualty in Dala Township as people fell down into flooded
water during storm. But casualty and the wounded cannot be estimated. Small ferry boats in
Rangoon River were sunk and one of them sank in them middle of river with full passengers.
Nobody can estimate casualty, wounded, and damage in Rangoon. There is no electricity, no

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water, no drinking water, no adequate transportation, almost no telephone connection in
Rangoon. People in Rangoon had to rely on oversea radio for news and information.

The authorities and army personals are clearing roads and trees and taking security only near
the quarters where their military officials live. People living at the rest of Rangoon had to take
their own security and find their own ways to solve their problems such as food, shelter and
clothes. People estimated that damages cannot be reconstructed within one or two months. No
police men or military people showed up for security. No authorities came and helped people.
People from Rangoon were desperate and angry at authorities for lack of any assistance.

Donation of NLD youth to victims of Cyclone Nargis in Htauk Kyant,

Hlegu Township

People receiving donated materials; rice and food in Htauk Kyant, Hlegu Township

Situation of Hmawbi village, Kungyangon Township

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Hmawbi village is far from Kungyangon Town, so not easily accessible. It can be accessed
only through Tawkoogyi village by car. Aid workers and well-wishers can not reach easily to
that village as the way to the village is still badly damaged with bridges broken though roads
have been repaired.

Although nobody died during the storm, most of the building including monasteries and
schools damaged or collapsed. Now people are living roadsides with temporary shelters and in
public gathering places for religious purpose. They have been waiting for donations.

Monasteries and schools have been under reconstruction without any assistance from
authorities. Some aids received are distributed through a monk and redistributed by some
young people to villagers.

In Hmawbi village, there are 288 households and 1144 people still living.

Who are the most affected people?

Yes. Children!

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Among death tolls; 102,000 deaths and 220,000 missing (UN estimate), almost one third
are children.

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Children are the most vulnerable among victims. Countless bodies of children are still in
the water.

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 The baby might not know what life was like.

Kung Chan Gone Township May 9, 2008

Cyclone victims were accepted in 22 monasteries of Zay Thein Pariyatti Dhammikaryone at

Ma Gyi quarter, Myo Thit sub district, in makeshift refugee camps. Monks accepted donations
and distributed to refugees. There are 24 refugee camps in down town. Some refugee camps
are posted in high school like State High School No. (1) and No. (2) and some other schools.
These refugee camps are set up by local people and refugee themselves but not by authorities.

About 10,000 people died during the storm in Kung Chan Gone (south), Taw Kyaung,
Kamarpa, Ingalote, Nyaung Ngu, Min Paing, Taw Pale, San Pya, Mayan, Thone Khwa, Pay
Kone Taw Kuu, Kaw Khayan (west), Mantalay village. In San Pya village which is located on
the bank of the river, all houses on the bank were flooded and single member of family in each
house died due to sudden rise of river water. 700 people died in San Pya village alone. Some
houses were flooded up to ceiling so people had to cling in beams of the roofs during flood.

Remaining people from these villages came and lived in the refugee camps. Some people
whose houses were not much damaged except torn off roofs, went back their houses. In Zay
Thein Pariyatti Dhammikaryone refugee camp, about 310 refugees stay. Authorities provided 5
packets of rice (One packet weighs about 50 KG). 8 sardine fish and 80 duck eggs. Most of rice
was soaked with water but people had to cook and eat it. Rice will be running out within two or
three days. Rice mills were broken and couldn't work.

Dead bodies were collected three days after the storm by military but some dead bodies could
be found even in up town. There were also dead animal's bodies and the whole town was full of
bad smell from dead bodies.

Authorities were distributing relief aids to those who have connection with them. In Town hall
in down town area, rice packets, potatoes bags, purified water bottles with labels of Battalion
(77) and Ministry of Health, were distributed to the victims in the evening time. The day after
the storm, staffs from fire brigade came to where victims stayed together and informed that
they were cooking food for refugees. But they didn't appear up to the evening time, so villagers
went to them and asked. They replied that they only cooked for members of USDA and fire
brigade so villagers cursed them came back.

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 Now we have no place to live.

We have to go some where else.

We are leaving. Where are we supposed to go?

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No home. No water. No food. No help.

You drink first, baby.

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We arrive to the refugee camps.

Kyaik Latt Township

Give us water, food and shelter.

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 Now we are receiving donation. Please donate.

Kaw Hmuu Township

Hlaingtharyar Township

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 Bogale Township

Please. Please. Please. Donate.

We are orphans. I don't know where my parents are. They might have passed away.

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Sometimes, we receive some clothes like that.

Some of us are living in monasteries.

Some of us are living in schools.

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 Now, we are lining up for food.

Now, they are distributing rice. But, please look at it.

Are they for pigs? We don't think people donated rice like that.

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They are wet, stinky and old. Anyway, we have to cook them to eat.

(According to some reliable sources, some trafficking gangs are now heading to refugee
camps to recruit children for several purposes. Army is also recruiting children. Teenage
girls are at risk of being trafficked.)

Save the Children has 43 staff in the field in total, and has undertaken basic assessments in
Dala, Kungyangon, Seikgikanaungt in Yangon, as well as Wakema and Maungmya in
Ayeyarwady Division. It has received unofficial reports of 2,000 separated children and of
sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the affected areas. 1

Now my house collapsed.

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Cyclone Nargis Myanmar, OCHA Situation Report No. 12, 16 May 2008

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 I have no house to live.

I have to go away from my village.

Now I live in a refugee camp.

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I am 16 year old but I had to take bath in a public place.

I have to line up for food.

Sometimes food is very difficult to receive.

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 Sometimes I was forced to work.

Now my friend told me that some one is persuading her to go to a better place in
somewhere near Thai-Burma border.
What should I do?

A story told by a volunteer donor from Rangoon

May 18, 2008

We came back from Laputta today. This was not the first time for us. Nothing was more
improved than the first time. But we found more devastating, frustrating and sorrowful things
than the previous visits. We had a chance to know that what we saw on government television
was just propaganda; to show international community that they could do aids works on their
own. Because they just provide assistance to refugee camps on the areas of towns but not to
villages where there are tremendous troubles, quite far away from big towns. The Commander
of regional command, Chairman of Relief Committee, sometimes with some foreigners came
to refugee camps to show aids materials and to be taken photographs. In reality, nobody has
reached so far the badly affected areas in some village tracts.

Some well wishers and well off people living in some towns want to go and help people in
badly need of assistance, but they couldn't do that especially due to transportation. For
example, it is difficult to hire a small boat not in a good condition due to illegal order of

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military authorities. They said 'we cannot guarantee your security', 'why are you going to these
places where there is nothing and nobody?' and so on. Some people does not want to take risk
of being looted or robbed on the way to far away places as there are rumor about bad security
on the way.

Boat people demanded three times of common prices for potential risk of security and damage.
On the way, there are military check points and you might be interrupted for interrogation.
Why do they block assistance like that? Even refugees on town are forced to relocate to another
town or place as authorities cannot take responsibility for long term. The Commander told the
refugees that reconstruction of ones' home and economic situation is on ones' own as he can
help just for short term. People have to clear their streets, build their houses by themselves and
build up their own businesses again. People who cannot come to town have to live on their
own or die on their spots.

In these villages, dead bodies are not rotten or decayed as they are soaked with salty water. But
villagers did not recognize who is who. They couldn't bury or cremate these bodies. So they
just pulled them down into the current of river or stream. In this way, a lot of bodies are still in
the water floating or submerged. People in some villages cannot rebuild their houses. So they
have to cover their huts with plastic sheets. They have no extra clothes. The have to cook and
drink water in the stream. They have to cook and eat wet rice. They have no medicines to cure
even diarrhea. They have no seed to grow in the coming rice growing season. Media attention
also abated in international arena.

They have no hope so far. So they have no future.

Some photos taken by a well wisher volunteer

Tha Yet Taw monastery refugee camp in Laputta Town

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 Some family has to take shelter on the street

Here we eat, here we sleep, here we

play, and here we stay

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Situation of Hmawbi village, Kungyangon Township
May 25, 2008

Hmawbi village is far from Kungyangon Town, so not easily accessible. It can be accessed
only through Tawkoogyi village by car. Aid workers and well-wishers can not reach easily to
that village as the way to the village is still badly damaged with bridges broken though roads
have been repaired.

Although nobody died during the storm, most of the building including monasteries and
schools damaged or collapsed. Now people are living roadsides with temporary shelters and in
public gathering places for religious purpose. They have been waiting for donations.

Monasteries and schools have been under reconstruction without any assistance from
authorities. Some aids received are distributed through a monk and redistributed by some
young people to villagers.

In Hmawbi village, there are 288 households and 1144 people still living.

Bogale Township Story

In some villages in Bogale Township, people
still need assistance. Some monks from
monasteries in town have to reach and help
them.

We have nothing as you see. Thank for

your assistance.

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 Some people aboard with monks to secure places

Buffaloes died en masse lucky survivor

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On the way, bodies still uncollected

On the way, bodies still uncollected

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 Tide up, bodies up. Tide down, bodies down.

May 28, 2008

Some villages in Bogale Township were badly affected due to the storm Nargis which hit
Burma on 2nd May 2008. In the southern part of Bogale Township, between Bogale and
Kadone Kani, a lot of villages such as Yaygyawgyi, Kansate, Naukpyan Doe, Meelaung Gwin,
Kyungtharyar, Pikeseetan, Lakechaung, Gwaychaung, Mapwetan, Tabegyi Wa, Ngapotethin
Ywartan, Byone Hmwe Kyung, Padekaw, Botechaung, Tabaylay Ywar Tan (inside and
outside), Kyanechaung Gyi, Lamuoak Gyi, Magu, Sat Kyune, Darpya Chaung, Kyat Taung
Chaung, Thakan Wa, Kan Su, Kappanan, Auk Nat Chaung, Pyin Kone, Kyan Khin and Sar
Phyu Su, were affected so badly that even native villagers could not recognize the landscape.

Byonehmwe Kyung Ayar village

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In a village called Byonehmwe Kyung where over 20,000 people used to live, approximately
only 100 people survived. In some villages, nothing left after water lowered down. At least two
third of population died and their bodies remained in debris on the ground or in the rivulet with
stinky smell according to some photos and video records and eyewitnesses. In a recess between
Thanpya and Yaykyaw villages, at least 400 or 500 bodies were gathered together without
being collected and buried so that the smell in the neighborhood is stinky.

No aids and assistance could be reached to above mentioned places up to two weeks after the
Cyclone. Well wishers from the town came to these villages under the tutelage of venerable
Sayardaws (monks) and helped those in need. Some left over from surrounding villages stayed
together in temporary shelters. They dried some rice under the sun, and boiled and ate them.
They collected some plastic containers used for fishing and collected rain water when raining
for drinking. Coconut is their main food both for drinking water and meal.

Two children in the picture are orphan wandering along the rivulet

Some people died some days after the Cyclone due to lack of proper medical treatment.
According to the survivor of the storm, there are thousands of orphans and he himself had to
collect two children who were wandering in the field along the rivulet without knowing where
to go, and sent them to a refugee camp in the town.

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 Only monks are helping those in need

On 6th May, some victims near Kyungtharyar village repaired a submerged boat and sailed to
Kadone-Kani village for some food and medical treatment. When they arrived there, people
from Kadone-Kani donated them with clothes, food and some medicines. When they went to a
rice mill for grinding rice paddy, they were demanded one third of the product as milling
charges by security forces, police, auxiliary fire brigade and members of USDA who were
guarding rice mills.

Mainma Hla Island Pagoda

One of the owners of rice storehouse donated his rice to the Cyclone victims as the rice in his
storehouse were badly damaged by sea water through authorities. But authorities distributed
rice to the victims with one packet of rice (about 260 grams) for each people and the rest of
rice were sold out by authorities with the price 1000 kyat for one pyi (about 2080 grams). U
Myo Lwin, a business man in Kadone Kani bribed Lieutenant Si Thu to issue the 'curfew' order
(in order for people not to go out at night) and collected some valuable things and plastic
containers used in fishing, at night time.

In Chaungbye Gyi village, Kadone Kani village tract, villagers collected some plastic
containers from the river and used them for saving rain water for drinking. Posting security
forces threatened villagers with gun fire and looted plastic containers.

But most of the refugees in these areas did not go to town because they heard that victims in
the refugee camps were relocated to other town and because they want to grow rice as they
know they will be greatly in trouble if they cannot produce rice in this season. According to the
witness who went out of Bogale to liberated area, no effective assistance program had reached
to these areas up to May 15, 2008. He said that only monks and well wishers were active to
help refugees in these remote villages.

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 May 28, 2008
Phyar Pon Township

Cyclone Nargis - Another victim’s story

On that night I lost my whole family: my wife and my two sons.

When the storm was at its peak we clung together to a tree. But the
water rose up and waves hit us, one after another. Then, as one of
the big waves hit us, my wife’s grip was broken and she was gone
with the wave. She screamed in the dark but her voice faded away.
I tried to save her but I had two children to protect. They clung to
me tightly: my younger son around my waist and my elder son on
my back. After a while I tried to swim to a safer place. Finally, I
reached a place near a big house with my sons. Time elapsed and I
almost fainted. Then I just briefly lost consciousness as I was
She was sleeping at the night of Nargis with wet
clothes. But luckily nothing happened to her.

freezing. When I regained consciousness I could not find my younger son. He had gone. The
next day, my elder son got a high fever. I had nothing to cure him. In the late evening of the
same day, he also passed away. I am the only survivor.

Buddha Temple without shelter in Phyar Pon Rice Mill 'Khine Tha Zin'

There used to be some houses As though there had never been a village

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"You are welcome to Zee Pyu Chaung village" "Welcome donors to Lay Ain Tan village"

Donor Boat with aids materials.

We rebuild our houses on our own with tarpaulin roof.

Nothing from authorities.

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 Schools must be opened by 2nd June, 2008. 'NO EXCUSE'
Otherwise they will be shut down. All schools have not been repaired yet.

Victims are coming to collect aids

Victims on the road sides but they are sitting quietly and receiving donations.
Be careful! They are not BEGGARS.

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Collected and presented by Information Department of
The National League for Democracy (Liberated Areas)

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