Aug 08: Newsglance - Assistance Brings Hope to Burmese



Returned Caritas Australia staff and our church partners in Burma have spoken of the Burmese people’s incredible resilience, where the nightmare of Cyclone Nargis in May is slowly being replaced with hope.

Than* is a local volunteer for Caritas Internationalis. Like many Burmese volunteers, he is from a village outside of the affected areas, but wants to help because he has seen his people suffer so greatly.

“Food and other essential needs are still scarce”, he says. “I was surprised to see many people back in their village without anything; they don’t even have the basic necessities such as food, water, clothes, shelter, and even cooking utensils”.

While travelling by river to some of these villages in the delta, Than* recalls seeing dead bodies scattered in the riverbanks.

“Those dead bodies had been there for a month already” he says. “Along the banks, you can see what is left of an entire village; basically nothing but scattered debris of houses and coconut trees lying around. In some of these villages, it was reported that only 3-4 people survived and the rest of their villagers are either dead or missing”.

From day one, the church network in Burma has been undertaking incredible and diligent work, in what has proven to be very difficult circumstances.

Caritas Australia supported the establishment of an international Emergency Response Support Team that included Michael Peyra of the Asia Team. Working through Caritas Burma, affected dioceses of Yangon and Pathein, and other church agencies in response to the disaster from early days, Caritas Australia has now shifted into taking the lead role for the Caritas International response.

“Given Caritas Australia’s long history of working in Burma, and our experience in responding to disaster, we have been asked to take on the role of facilitating partner for the Caritas International Confederation in Burma”, explains Jamie Isbister, Caritas Australia’s International Programes Manager.

So far, the work of Caritas and the church has been heavy going. Volunteers in Dedeya have been valiantly burying dead bodies that have been exposed to sun and rain for a month. Elsewhere caregivers and volunteers have faced threats to their own physical and psychological health, living amidst contaminated water and rotting bodies.

However, signs of healing are slowly emerging.

Thousands are returning home, or where their home used to be. Children are returning to school, knowing some of their friends will not be here. Just a month ago, no family was able, or willing, to send their children to school. This month, with our support for uniforms, books and fees, hundreds of children are now returning.

There are villages that were destroyed without a trace, and farmlands polluted with the seawater. But as seeds are distributed, farmers are returning to a slowly healing land.

The church is also designing a healing process through Psycho-Spiritual training to help people cope with the crisis and their losses. The survivors of Cyclone Nargis continue to suffer from pervasive trauma, adding a further challenge to rebuilding their lives.

After taking a moment to pause and reflect on the response to the disaster so far, Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon has expressed deep gratitude to all that have stood by the people of Burma, including Australians, in their hour of need.

 “We thank all of you at this juncture. Our work has been very challenging, done under great restrictions on access.  But you all made our work rewarding by standing by us with your great fellowship”.

“It has been a month of pain and sorrow for our people. But the tide is turning, because people like you felt their pain from far and rushed with assistance. The church could save lives because of you. On behalf of those thousands who survived we owe a deep debt of gratitude to all of you”.

The Caritas response so far has seen the purchase and distribution of goods valued at over USD 800,000. The substantial proportions of the funds have been spent on rice, water, non-food items such as mosquito nets and cooking utensils, shelter and tarpaulins and health care.

But as Archbishop Bo says, “the journey continues. The urgent needs remain setting up homes, shelter and regenerating households livelihoods through supply of seeds to farmers, and encouraging micro enterprises”.

Jamie Isbister adds, “Caritas Australia will be providing ongoing support to the church network in Burma, which will reach well beyond the initial response to the disaster, and into the longer-term reconstruction of affected villages and areas throughout the region”.

Because beyond meeting the immediate needs of shelter and clean water, a long-term focus on rehabilitation is crucial, and Caritas Australia is committed to meeting that ongoing challenge.


* Names have been changed for this story.


For more information contact Caritas Australia on 1800 024 413 , or visit www.caritas.org.au



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