5 August 2010
By May Myat Swe, MRCS

Landslide wiped 65 lives out and left more than 200 families homeless in Buthitaung Township, Northen Rakhine State during mid of July. Killer Landslide is the result of incessant heavy rain, started falling on early morning of 14th July, and successive Earthquake registered on 5 Richter scale in the mid-night. Heavy rain even triggered flood across a wide swathe of Buthitaung Township. Local Red Cross Branch, Buthitaung Township stepped at front line in helping affected 400 households.

MRCS EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Initial effort
Local Branch immediately called on and formed up the Rescue team with 25 volunteers the day after. Evacuating the residents from flooded area to the temporary camps, this rescue team reinforced with Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and also with inter-agencies likes UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, and Care Myanmar. These Team members individually joined up in total of 7 speedboats which belong to UNDP, UNICEF and WFP shifted to and fro within flooded area.

There were totally 400 households in 7 quarters affected from Flood. As part of 78 Village Tracts, 2 villages namely TETYAR and KAKYA BAK KANPYIN were unfortunately caught in tragedy of landslide.

“Landslide devastated in mountain side and flood hit the coastal area. Residents had been attacked from both sides. We urgently opened the 4 temporary camps which were originally Middle School and Monasteries and running for 3 days. Approximately 25 patients were discharged from Township Hospital to the camps for the reason of safety.” said U (Mr.) Aye Chan, 2 i-C of local Branch.

Totally 280 households sheltered at temporary camps. At the end of action, 75 volunteers finally got together and dealt with Dead-body Management and distribution of relief items to the affected communities as well.

“We made picking-up, registration of dead body and informed the survived families and relatives. We made relief distribution with the coverage of 100 households and that was targeted to the households deadly affected by tragedy. Affected households are now living in temporary tents covered with Tarpaulin supported by MRCS. 100 households still in need of assistance out there and this is the account for our effort with the help of National Headquarter to support further assistance.” U Aye Chan concluded his conversations.

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2 i-C – Second in Command, Head of Township Red Cross Brigade

Bilateral
The 11 pieces of Mosquito-Net and 14 sheets of Blanket, under the MRCS-UNHCR Northern Rakhine State project, having taken out from Buthitaung based Area Development Office, then distributed to the residents. This was of use to residents while outreach teams were in trouble with disrupted road communications.

National level
Emergency and Relief action has also come from National level. Assessment team, comprising a Project Coordinator and a Programme Officer/Logistics, had also followed to the affected areas on 19th July. On the arrival at Sittwe Township2 , Assessment team made brief discussion with representative of UNICEF and Divisional Red Cross Supervisory Committee.

Project Officer said “We managed to withdraw 100 sets of family kits, 50 sets of hygiene kits, 50 sets of kitchen utensil, 10 sets of shelter tool kit, 10 pieces of life jackets and 144 pieces of Tarpaulin sheet from Sittwe Warehouse. We took these items along the way to Buthitaung for distribution. Grade 1 Officer from Sittwe and 5 Volunteers from Buthitaung engaged in assessment work.”

Assessment team conducted distribution during the trip. It took 10 days for them to accomplish the task. That was due to the access road, severely damaged by flood and landslide, to Buthitaung from Maungtaw. National Head Quarter has also restocked the Sittwe Warehouse with 1000 sets of family kits. It is expected to meets the demand.

Myanmar Red Cross, both of National level and field level, has helped the victims to fully recover from sadness and loss.

Sittwe is the administrative capital of the Rakhine State.

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Sittwe is the administrative capital of the Rakhine State.