May 11, 2008 (DVB)—A cyclone victim in Hlaing Tharyar, Rangoon, has said people in the township are not receiving any assistance and are being driven out of public buildings by local authorities.
In an interview with DVB on Friday, the woman said there were many cyclone victims in the township, perhaps more than 10,000, but they had been forced out of buildings where they had taken shelter by local officials and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association.
DVB: We understand the cyclone victims were asked to move out of a building. Can you tell me where that was?
“From state high school No. 3. None of the cyclone victims received anything when rice and oil were given out. The USDA and the local authorities were handing out rice and oil, so we went there but we were not given anything. They only distributed the goods to their own people. None of the starving victims received anything. There are many people in serious trouble with many of them staying in monasteries. We are staying in a hall.”
DVB: When were the authorities distributing rice and oil?
“They have been distributing the food for the past three days.”
DVB: What about today?
“No, not today. The people who are really starving did not receive anything. The food was distributed to people in their own organisations. Only about 50 of the victims received the food distributed”.
DVB: You said only 50 of the victims received the food. How many people do you believe need it?
“Over 10,000.”
DVB: The 10,000 people you speak of, did they lose their homes in the cyclone?
“Yes, they lost everything. Some died, some lost the roofs of their homes, and some were left without shelter and are starving. Some couples have many children.”
DVB: Which ward are you from?
“Ward No. 14.”
DVB: I see, but the victims must be from different wards?
“Yes. People from all wards came to the food distribution area.”
DVB: Why did they force you away from state high school No. 3?
“They said we were not allowed to stay there any longer. The person who ordered out was U Mya Win of the USDA. We were evicted yesterday and had to go without meals in the morning. Food is only given to their people and we, who are starving, did not get anything, neither oil nor rice. We are all homeless and I have to rent a place.
“I am a cyclone victim but I have not even received a grain of rice. They said they were distributing food at 1500 hours, so I went there and they told me the distribution was in the morning. They – the USDA Office - asked me to come early the next morning and I did and they told me the distribution would only be in the evening.”
DVB: So, you want to appeal to the USDA and the local authorities to be fair in distributing food aid. The international agencies are also concerned about the assistance reaching the people. The aid, it appears, is not reaching you. So, what would you like to tell the international community about it?
“I want to tell them that food aid is not reaching us, we are in trouble because of our food, clothing and shelter difficulties, and we have nowhere to stay. We want them to help us. The other day, my niece fainted after they closed the iron gates on the people queuing for food aid and she was caught in between. We are really in trouble and that is what we want the international community to know. We want the food aid to be sent directly to the people because we do not get anything if it comes through them.”
Reporting by Maung Too
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