Influenza outbreak

   On June 27th, the first case of A/H1N1 influenza in Myanmar was reported. Therefore, the inspections at the airport have become as strict as in Japan. The cost of masks has risen from 10 yen to 40 yen and stocks have been ran out. The only people who wear the mask are those of wealthy people and majority of the people of Myanmar are not able to afford to wear one.

  The people do not want to wear it from the fear that might caused the rumor that "you are ill", due to the common idea that those who wear a mask are in sick. JEN heard that there are quite a number of housewives who hesitate to wear one for go shopping.

  This picture is taken at a kindergartens for the wealthy family in Yangon. They have made a decision to wear masks. Although both teachers and children are wearing it, they are laughing at each others’ faces as it is strange to wear it. Some children even cry because they do not want to put it on.

  Despite the emergency of influenza's outbreak, JEN has come to realize that our planet is linked each other in various ways.

(Anh Kyi Win, a local staff)

About JEN shelters

  Thanks to the kind support from the Japan Platform and JEN's Supporters, JEN has completed the distribution of the shelter kits (a set of parts for a temporary house) to the sufferers whom lost their houses due the gigantic Cyclone. There are at least 50-plus NGOs which either distribute or construct shelters in the disaster area; however, JEN have distributed 4,500 sets —the largest figure amongst them.

  Shelter kits are made from materials which are familiar to villagers, such as bamboo, wood and dani (nypa), so that they can fix and repair them easily by themselves. The size of our shelter, that is 15.7m2, was decided based on the size of the other houses in the villages, number of family members whom survived and the opinions from the villagers. JEN have listened seriously to the villagers voice and have put huge efforts on deciding the size with careful consideration as to not to stress the villagers.
 
  In addition, JEN has strengthened the buildings by introducing methods which were new to this area. The first method was a braced frame — a method to connect pillars in x-shape. This method was not used in the village, although it can be found in modern cities such as Yangon. Second, the buildings were strengthened significantly by making the walls double-layer and stabilizing the foundations of the pillars with bricks, sands and cement. Our shelters kept steady even during the strong winds and this helped us gain trust from the villagers.

  Taking this opportunity, JEN would like to thank those that made a donation; JEN could not have carried out the support and aids on a large scale like this without your warm support. However, even though one year has passed, the conditions in the disaster area are not easy. Therefore, we hope for your continuous support in the future.

***

Reporting seminar re JEN Myanmar mission

June 19th, 2009

For more details

***

Unity to recover- a year after the cyclone

  The other day, JEN held the first year anniversary memorial service with the villagers for those who were killed by the cyclone.

  The monk of the village held the memorial service for the villagers mourning the lost. A lot of women were weeping. It has been a year, but still the pain in their mind remains. The staff from JEN attended the ceremony and were strongly moved. We felt again that the Buddhist faith is very close and precious for the people in Myanmar.

  After the memorial service, children and adults were eating all together. Being busy for the recovery in their daily life, the villagers cannot gather frequently as they did before. However small the assembly can be, we hope that the villagers will recover their ties, little by little.

  On this occasion, we again sincerely pray for the souls of the lost, killed by the cyclone “Nargis ”. JEN will continue its support hereafter so that the devastated area can recover soon as possible.

The Challenges of the Orphans

JEN is surveying in detail in order to decide the distribution site of the shelter kit.
The other day, during the needs survey, JEN met four children. The four were brothers who lost their parents and lived with their relatives because of the Cyclone. However, their relatives are out of work and have their own child, so they cannot make a living for the other four children.

Generally, children without parents are recommended to go to a foster home run by the government. However, because of the possibility that siblings become separated, the relatives decided to take in the four brothers together.

In addition to their own child, it is very difficult to send four children to school. Therefore, there is a chance that the children will stop going to school to work instead. Their life is tough, but they somehow manage to take care of the four orphans.
Through the children, we were able to see that Cyclones not only cause physical damage, but influences lifestyles in many other ways.

JEN is planning for future programs while proceeding with the present shelter distribution programs.

The Story of Yeywey

  Several days ago, JEN visited the village of Yeywey to monitor our project. Yeywey is located two hours by boat from Lapta. Yeywey encountered the highest wave (ca. 3 m 60 cm) amongst the affected regions. Therefore, the population of the village declined from the pre-Cyclone condition of 1,500 (300 households) to 500 (150 households) including households from neighboring villages.

  When the Cyclone hit the village, a temple, which had been considered the strongest structure in the village was the first to collapse. The villagers who saw this temple collapse survived by rushing into a two-story school building or the homes of influential villagers, or clung to big trees,.

  The most well-known story is that of a mother and her baby who survived in a two-story house. JEN was introduced to this mother as soon as we entered the village and was given an opportunity to hear her story. JEN was told that they have rushed into a two-story house to escape from high waves. However, they had barely reached the second floor when the roof of the house was blown off (see image). Seconds after this incident, they were hit by high waves. The mother desperately clung to a post of the house with her one arm while she upheld her baby with the other. In this way, they both just barely survived.

  The devastating power of the Cyclone and high waves can be sensed from this building which still remains as it was. On the other hand, this building is also a place where the members of the village can share the joy of the miracle of survival of this baby.

  JEN has learned the importance to live through providing aid to villagers and, catalyzed by their strength, continues our activities.

Six Months After The Cyclone: The Need For Psychosocial Care.

　　Presently, JEN is surveying the villages to decide which village to distribute the additional 1500 emergency shelter kits.

　　The other day, when JEN asked the villagers, “What do you need the most?”, the response was “We want our children back”. This villager lost two of their children in the cyclone.

　　In order to provide the support of what they really need, JEN needs to survey and ask various questions to the villagers. However, when JEN encounters this kind of response, there is no way to react other than to be stunned and listen.　

　　Six months after the cyclone, even as our activities in Myanmar are getting organized, these kinds of words strike us strongly. We even feel helpless that we are unable to do anything for them to help with this matter. 　

　　The representatives of the villagers have also lost a lot of family members. The representatives do not show their sadness and are dedicated to assisting the other villagers. Working with such villagers gives JEN the day by day courage to “not stop, just do our best in what we can”.

About Shelter Distribution

     Today, we will explain how shelter kits are distributed to the villagers.

  First, JEN conducts a needs assessment on the local needs of shelter-kits and determines which villages to distribute the shelter-kits to.

  After JEN has determined the villages to which our shelter-kits will be distributed, JEN asks those villages to set-up a committee to receive the shelter-kits.

  Subsequently, JEN asks these committees to compile a list of house owners who will receive the shelter-kits.

  Members of the committee check the number of shelter-kits upon each arrival.

  After the shelter-kits have reached the villages, the committee summons all members of the village who will receive the shelter-kits. The recipients are asked by a committee member to seal their thumb marks on the document to confirm that the shelter-kits have actually been delivered to them.

  Villagers exhibit various emotions when giving their thumb marks. Some villagers express their utmost gratitude to donors, while others show empty faces because of the loss of their family members. Some enjoy chatting with others and some become nervous because of their lack of thumb marking experiences. Among them, villagers who showed empty faces comprised a majority of the recipients and JEN are always concerned about them.

  We are aiming to effectively conduct our support to deliver aid to people who need it most; JEN always take into consideration the necessary supports for those villages with empty faces when leaving the village.

A Moment away from the Busy Schedule Part 3: Three Shunidy Sisters and “Thanaka”

When I visit the field, I always stay with the three sisters of the Shunidy family. With them, there is always something to do with "Thanaka", Myanmar’s traditional natural cosmetic product. Thanaka is made from the bark of citrus trees and by grating it with a special stone just for the purpose of making this product. Women and kids are the main users and they enjoy using it as a sunscreen by applying it onto their skin.

The history of thanaka is long; it is even carved in a mural decoration which belongs to the Bagan kingdom (AD 1044 -) - the first kingdom in Myanmar. It is said that good old wives had put the thanaka on their face and longed for their husbands’ homecoming.

The three sisters taught me how to use it, after they had taken a morning shower. In addition, they advised me to put sandalwood aroma (a grated bark) on my hands and legs, since thanaka itself does not have much of a scent.

The three sisters repeat the same procedure after their evening showers. We have a lively conversation while having a light meal together. I'd be probably well adopted in the village with thanaka on me; people treat me like as if I were one of their family members.

When we foreigners work in the local field, JEN respects the customs and cultures of the country in various situations, and puts the best effort to blend into the local cultures to construct a better relationship with the local people.

The Fire Festival in Myanmar

In Myanmar, the Buddhist Fire Festival is held at the end of rainy seasons. According to the Buddhist teachings, people and the materials are prohibited from moving from one place to another during the rainy seasons. The best practice for moving is to build a new house during the rainy seasons, and to invite monks to the new house to bring blessings.

Fortunately, shelter-kits are expected to be built by the Fire Festival. Villagers say, “We have received the shelter-kits in just the right season.” Since JEN is putting their utmost effort in providing aid with respect to the local cultures, JEN was happy to discover this unexpected coincidence.

JEN would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support to our mission in Myanmar. We hope to receive continuous support from you.

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A New Lifestyle

Families who have got a place to live by means of distributed shelter-kits are starting their lives afresh. In a village which JEN visited during the monitoring purposes, JEN was happy to see villagers not only deploying a shelter-kit and living in it, but also organising and customising the interior and exterior of the houses to match their lifestyle.

JEN has found an interesting common trend amongst villagers through post-distribution monitoring. The first thing the people of Myanmar do after they have finished deploying a shelter-kit is making a Buddhist altar. Many people are devout Buddhists in Myanmar. Even though they do not have a lot of belongings, it seems to be very important for them to make a Buddhist alter. In all the houses we have visited, we have found Buddhist altars. The villagers’ living is recovering to pre-Cyclone standards in the villages in which JEN has distributed shelter-kits. 

On the other hand, there are still local people suffering from a lack of places to live in villages where JEN has not been able to distribute shelter-kits. To improve such conditions, JEN is planning to continue the distribution of shelter-kits.

Distribution of Roofs for Schools

JEN distributes CGI sheets to the schools where their buildings had their roofs blown away by the Cyclone Nargis. “We are happy to see our children under roofs that create an enabling environment to study,” say the teachers. Children also show their happiness and gratitude to JEN by singing songs while JEN visited one of the schools.

Some schools that JEN supports with CGI sheets fortunately have kept the framework of their buildings. But many others even got their buildings’ foundations blown away in the Cyclone. They set up temporary small buildings and organize classes both in the morning and in the afternoon separately for children of different grades. Due to these measures, children learn only half of what they have to learn in a day.

JEN’s CGI sheets will help them re-establish their school building in the near future.

Distribution of Shelter Kits Completed

This picture shows the stamp that signifies the receipt for the shelter kits. Distribution of shelter kits for 3,000 households has been successfully completed as planned in the on-going project.

Villagers have made good progress in reconstructing their houses with JEN’s shelter kits. However, in many villages, it is still not rare to see several families living together in a temporary house built with insufficient materials, although it has been nearly five months since the disaster of Cyclone Nargis. The roads to the villages are not in good conditions and material procurement is still a difficult task. But JEN is supporting them in whatever capacity we can to recover their livelihoods and stable lifestyles.

We see the smiles and happiness on the faces of the people when they rebuild their houses with the shelter kits. On the other hand, through the communication with the people, we can’t help but think the people have received a big psychological shock by the Cyclone. JEN is now concerned about their mental trauma and will start a needs assessment for psycho-social care support in addition to the on-going project.

Aiming for a More Comfortable Home

Utilizing shelter kits distributed by JEN, local villagers are working together to build houses. Some villagers seem to be customizing the houses once they are built. For example, a watershoot for collecting rainwater was added to one of the houses. Another house has been expanded by adding a shed right next to it.

Customizing the shelter houses according to the individuals’ lifestyles from their own will, is a positive indication of self-sustainable reconstruction of life.

JEN is to distribute 3000 shelter-kits by the end of September.

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Scars Left by the Cyclone

At the moment, JEN is investigating on needs for further aid and support whilst distributing shelters.
During this needs assessment, JEN asked locals about the Cyclone itself as well.

A 38-year-old man visits the site where he lost his four sons and is overcome by anguish every day.
A 25-year-old woman who lost ten members of her family burst into tears when JEN asked her about the cyclone, and thus JEN could not continue this interview.
A 36-years-old woman told JEN that she could not stop shedding tears during a meal because it reminds her about her late child’s favourite dish.

From these interviews, that there were hidden tears behind the everyday smiles of the local people effected by the cyclone.
Though JEN was aware of this from the beginning, this was the moment that JEN reaffirmed the severity of the cyclone damage.
It is difficult to send aid and support to every village where JEN conducted an investigation.
As JEN explained this to the people, they replied, “We understand that it is difficult to distribute aid supplies to every single village. Rather, we are happy that JEN listens to our voice so intently”.
JEN recognized the importance of listening to the afflicted people, and JEN is intending to continue providing aid and support by taking careful consideration of the results of this investigation.

The Arrival of Roofing Material

Ten thousand C.G.I sheets contributed from the AEON group were unloaded at the storehouse of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in the Yangon Port on August 6th .

The Emergency Distribution of C.G.I. sheets project is a collective effort of JEN, the Government of Japan, and the AEON Group, a group of over 140 major retail stores in Japan,

JEN organized a hand-over ceremony of the C.G.I. sheets on 12th August in the presence of the President of the Federation, Mr. U Win Myint, and Mr. Yasuaki Nogawa, the Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar.

For smooth distribution of the C.G.I. sheets, JEN, with the collaboration of the UMFCCI, is currently conducting a mapping survey on mainly schools.

Primary schools in the cyclone affected areas temporarily use tarpaulin sheets for the roofs, or the buildings have remained completely destroyed after the cyclone.

Schooling gives children opportunities to meet their friends, and heal their sorrows and fears experienced from the cyclone. Providing the educational space for children is an essential component of psycho-social care for the children.

Three Months have Passed since Cyclone Nargis

In the areas where road access is poor, there are many locals who are still completely dependant upon aid for livelihoods and there are even locals without a home of their own.

The afflicted area is known for its abundant rice production.

Usually, rice planting is done by mid July and the harvest is in October or November.

However, there are fears for this year’s harvest because the rice plants were destroyed by Cyclone Nargis and even those that survived suffer from insufficient growth.

If the harvest is short, the local people cannot earn enough income to make their living.

Farmers are not the only locals suffering from the disaster; fishermen are faced with a difficult situation as well because their fishing nets and boats were washed away.

Furthermore, pond water is undrinkable due to the influx of sea water caused by the high tides. This adds further hardship for the local people.

As can be seen, the scar left by the Cyclone, which has killed more than 100,000 people, is deep and serious.

Much more time and effort is needed to recover the livelihood of the local people.

JEN is considering further support to the afflicted locals whilst paying careful regard to their future perspectives.

Let’s build a house

On the 11th of July, the distribution of the shelter kits began in Leikkyun village in Dedaye. On the day of distribution, all the villagers came to greet and welcome us. Before this day, the villagers had lived in temporary shelters build by debris from the Cyclone, or gone to live with their relatives. However, now, they have come to a stage where they can begin to rebuild their community.

The shelter kits that JEN contains building materials enough for one home. After the distribution of material needed to the residents, the building process commence with the aid of a construction company. The photograph shows a glimpse of the assembly of a house being built by the locals. With 7 or 8 people, a house can be built within merely a day. The lifetime of these houses can last a good 2-3 years, and with further maintenance it can last even longer.

JEN determined the size and materials of these homes by consulting the local construction company to ensure sustainability of homes suit for the natural environment of Myanmar. . The villages expressed with joy that they ‘felt safe in homes that were built with familiar building materials’. We are now looking to gather more supplies and provisions for further development in other villages and regions. We are happy to report that preparations are going smoothly.

The cradle left behind

The cradle on the tree in the picture belongs to a villager; he left it behind after he lost his wife and children in Labutta.

During the Cyclone, desperate to save his dear child, he put the child in a cradle and left it up on a tree. However, both his wife and child were washed away and killed by the Cyclone. This man, distraught, explained,

‘I have no will to take that cradle down. I want to leave it as it is’.

There are many people in this big village that are now the only remaining member of their family. In their deep traumatic shock, they express their sadness to us.

A needs assessment was conducted in a village near the sea, which had been severely damaged by the Cyclone. Around 2/3 of the villagers perished due to this cyclone. JEN will distribute shelter kits to villages of this sort. In parts of Myanmar, villagers are cooperating to rebuild their homes.

The purpose of shelter kit distribution is to allow the villagers to cooperate in constructing a home. It is important for citizens to come together after a disaster to engage in joint projects.

Working collaboratively to rebuild a home will not heal all wounds, but JEN hopes it will lead to some form of psycho-social care, no matter how small.

People in need

Needs assessments have been conducted in the region of Dedaye and Bogale, where there has been severe damage due to the Cyclone. As a result, it has been decided that shelter kits will be distributed to 380 families in Dedaye, and 460 families in Bogale.

People who have lost their homes have built temporary huts for themselves, or several families are living in homes that were unaffected by the Cyclone. Such temporary huts are vulnerable to strong winds and rain, and the villagers all expressed a desire to live in a safe house as soon as possible. In addition, those who are living with various other families said that, ‘I would like to live in my own family home; I don’t want to cause any inconvenience to other families’. These people are waiting for the shelter kits to be distributed.

Needs assessments are still in progress in Lambutta where it has been decided that around 1000 shelter kits will be distributed. The villages along the coast have especially been hard-hit by the Cyclone, and as the needs assessment continues, the need for shelter kits are becoming more apparent.

Furthermore, preparation for the shelter kits is under progress in Lambutta. In the target villages, all bamboo, trees, and palm trees have been washed away due to the cyclone, so there is a need for such materials. JEN and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Myanmar, are planning to bring materials from regions unaffected by the Cyclone and distribute those materials to the target villages.

What the People Feel

According to the United Nations, there have been more than 100,000 deaths due to the Cyclone.
There are many cases where only one member of a family has survived.
Such people have lost hope, and are in a state of despair.
JEN is contemplating what we can do for people in such situations.
The loss of family is something extremely difficult for anybody to endure.
JEN hopes that through the distribution of shelter kits, we are able to revive some sense of hope for these people.

However, not all stories are so desperate:
For example, in Yangon, there are donation boxes throughout the city.
Many people of Myanmar have visited the victims and distributed materials and provided donations.

It is more than just a spirit of volunteerism; it is a genuine sentiment, people feel that they to help these people," in any way they possibly can..."
Such warm sentiments fill the air in Yangon.

About Shelter Kits

    Originally, the shelter kit included general relief items such as plastic sheets and tool sets. However, upon further needs assessment of the disaster victims, it became clear that plastic sheets were not suitable for Myanmar’s climate, and that people were not accustomed to using them.

Therefore, JEN and UMFCCI decided to distribute home-building materials such as bamboo and palm tree leaves in order to better suit the needs of the victims.

In emergency assistance, needs change on a daily basis. By providing assistance appropriate for the climate and the people, JEN is able to respect the wishes and requests of the people. Furthermore, distributing materials that the people are accustomed to allows them to reconstruct their homes by themselves.

When we shared this distribution plan with those in the village, there was a look of relief on their faces. It is important not only to distribute necessary materials, but to support the people’s positive willingness to move forward.

JEN to Provide Assistance in Labutta

JEN will distribute shelter kits to 1000 households that have lost their homes in Labutta, Ayewardy Division.

Labutta is a coastal delta area located 10 hours south of Yangon by car. It was one of the most severely affected areas by the Cyclone.

The villages that JEN provided assistance to are another 2 to 3 hours outside of Labutta town.

Assistance is being provided to many villages situated along the river; however, relief is not being reached in villages along the minor tributaries of the river. 

JEN will distribute shelter kits to those who await assistance in villages that have not received any form of aid.

Shelter Kit Distribution Plan

Many people have lost their homes due to the Cyclone, and without any other option, are currently living in Plastic Sheet tents or refugee camps.

JEN, with the support of the Japan Platform, has decided to distribute Shelter Kits to 3,000 families in order for such people to return to a comfortable lifestyle has soon as possible.

The areas of distribution will be determined by the deliberations of UMFCCI along with JEN’s local staff members.

Agreement has been made with UMFCCI

To provide assistance to victims of Cyclone Nargis, JEN will cooperate with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

Most corporations in Myanmar are affiliated with UMFCCI. On June 9th, JEN was successful in reaching an agreement with UMFCCI, and is under the process of initial assessment of needs for the cyclone victims.

Opening of the Yangon Office

On June 1st, three NGOs affiliated with the Japan Platform (Peace Winds Japan, Nicco, and JEN) established a shared office in order to provide assistance to victim of Cyclone Nargis.

We are currently in the process of conducting Needs Assessments in order to identify the areas that need assistance. Within Yangon, fallen trees have already been removed and the situation remains tranquil.

The picture is the view from the office in Yangon.