Authorities continue eviction from cyclone shelters

Huai Pi

Tuesday, 03 June 2008 00:00

New Delhi – Eviction of cyclone victims from shelters in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions by the local Burmese military junta authorities continues unabated. The Rangoon Division, South Dagon Township Peace and Development Committee (PDC) ordered cyclone victims sheltered in No. 26 Ward, Yaukphaw San Nyein prayer hall to go back to their areas without providing them any assistance and relief material. The authorities claimed that the cyclone victims have been given enough assistance and material. The number of cyclone victims in the prayer hall is now a mere 20 from hundreds earlier. The rest must leave tomorrow. "The government has given you enough assistance and relief material so you must go back home by June 4 which is the cut off date. Or else local authorities will come and evict all of you from here," a trustee board member of the prayer hall told the cyclone victims. During their stay in the prayer hall, the cyclone victims received food and medicine only from UNICEF and NGOs, not from the government. Now the regime is evicting them from the shelters. "I have no home to go back to. I lost everything in the cyclone. Neither do I have money to rent land. I can't imagine how I can live and survive there," a refugee who has to return to Dadeye, one of the worst-hit areas, told Mizzima. Similarly the victims sheltered in Sate High School No. 1 and 2 and State Middle School No. 1 and 2 are being evicted after being given Kyat 20,000 and five pyis (approx. 2.5 Kg per pyi) of rice by the local authorities because  schools will have to reopen. "They are forcibly sending us back to our villages. I dare not go back home. Almost all villagers died in the cyclone and I lost my home too," an old woman sheltered in State High School No. 1 said. This elderly woman and two spinsters are seeking refuge in Bogale satellite Township at the homes of their distant relatives, a local resident who assisted these refugees said. Local authorities evicted cyclone victims from their temporary shelters from four schools in Bogale without providing any assistance. Now only 700 victims remain in the monastery in No. 4 Ward, a local resident said. "Earlier, there were tens of thousands of cyclone victims in Bogale. Now only a few remain. Some went back home and some are taking refuge at all available places," he said. Though the regime has claimed that the cyclone victims have been given adequate assistance and relief material, hundreds of victims can still be seen waiting for private donors and well wishers on the roadside along the Mayan Road in Kungyankone Township, Rangoon Division. < Prev   Next >