Daw Myint Htay’s journey forward

by Si Thu Ko Ko, reporting officer, MRCS

Cyclone Nargis was named after the Urdu word for daffodil. In Myanmar the devastating cyclone has another more mortal meaning. “Nar” means “pain” and “gis” means “messed up”. Millions of lives were “painfully messed up”, when Nargis hit the Ayeyarwady Delta in early May 2008. Daw Myint Htay is one of those who beas a lot of pain and distress after the cyclone. She lived in Kyaiklatt in the eastern part of Delta ‐ an area which was not so devastatingly damaged but many families were nevertheless severely affected.

Among them Daw Mying Htay’s. They lost their house and their small fishing boat, which was her only mean to secure a small income for herself and her six children.

Not an easy life

In the immediate aftermath, Daw Myint Htay received one mosquito net and one blanket from the Red Cross as emergency relief, but life since the cyclone has not been easy. Her family has had to struggle as they have had no boat to go fishing along the rivulet in her neighborhood. Before the cyclone, Daw Myint Htay and one or two of her children would usually go fishing, ,while her daughter‐in‐law sold their catch on the market. Especially the two children still in school have suffered over the past two years. They have barely been able to meet the requirement of 75 percent attendance as they have found it very difficult to reach the school without a boat during the rainy season, which is 5‐6 months long.

Hitchhiking for fishing

Not only getting the children to school but filling the rice pot with food for the family has been a challenge. “I have had to work with different fishermen, almost hitchhiking on their boats and paying half of my catch to them”, says Daw Myint Htay.

Now she smiles again. In late February she received a new boat from Red Cross as part of the livelihood programme. A boat she is convinced will last for the next 3‐4 years and which will enable her to provide an income for the family again – and take her children to school.

11.500 families helped

“The Myanmar Red Cross Society supported by the International Federation is carrying out an “asset recovery program” for 11,500 families in 11 townships”, says the MRCS president, Dr. Tha Hla Shwe.

“We provide assistance to people who lost their livelihood‐assets during Nargis and who have not yet recovered. Beneficiaries will be given fishing boats and -tools, agricultural support, livestock animals or commodities and a small amount of cash to buy utensils”, he adds.