Myanmar cyclone victims struggle two years on
THA KYAR HIN O — San Tin says she is haunted by memories of the deadly storm that devastated her Myanmar village two years ago, but fears that she may go thirsty unless more rain falls. Many survivors of Cyclone “Nargis,” which left 138,000 persons dead or missing and laid waste to swathes of military-ruled Myanmar, are still facing water and food shortages and struggling to rebuild their lives. “We don’t want any wind and rain as we are afraid,” said San Tin, a 62-year-old widow. “But on the other hand, we need rain because then we don’t have to worry about drinking water,” she told AFP. “I wish both my old mother and I would die if another cyclone comes. I don’t want to die alone because I have to worry about this old lady,” she added. Cyclone Nargis unleashed winds of 240 kilometers (150 miles) an hour and storm surges up to four meters (13 feet) high, sweeping away thousands of homes, flooding rice fields with salt water and ravaging schools and hospitals. .... MORE Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100505com6.html |
|
0 comments
Post a Comment