Sent: Oct 18, 2008
Subject: Going to Burma

Saving up my money to purchase a few crafts...I have a junk shop owner who picks up good ones and keeps them for me. I don’t get over much anymore but will go end of this month. I'm going in with the head of a NGO that assist with free meals for poor schools. I do plan to get across the river this time to look at the area you and John singled out as being of need. Miss you. When are you coming to our way?

Sent: Sept 18 2008
Subject: Trip to the delta from an expat

How many days were you in the Delta? Three days
How long getting there? 7 hours by car which is enough to kill you, 7 hours by ferry and 2 hours by my raft with a 40 HP motor. Left at 2 am and got there for dinner. Very difficult trip!!!
What did you see?...50 % of the homes have USAID plastic sheeting on their homes. Lots of homes completely destroyed. Very sad eyes. Lots of children and life moving on as normal. Except the people are having to live on hand outs rather than making a living. They want to get back to making a living. Shortage of, actually a lack of supplies,i.e. have no fishing nets and they desperately need these nets now or they will miss the fishing season!

And in terms of permanent physical damage to the landscape? I did not see any real physical damage to the landscape. It certainly is very beautiful down there.

What was the state of rebuilding? Those that can rebuild are rebuilding. Those who cannot are not rebuilding. I don't think there is any corruption. I met with hundreds of villagers and their only request was for nets so they can start fishing next week when the fishing season starts.

What is mood of the locals? Very sad. Most have lost so many family members. They feel hopeless because they have to depend on hand outs and can not get on with their life because they lack the tools to earn a living.

Did they look healthy or hungry? They are fine. Just very depressed and feel hopeless. In your opinion what do you see or sense will be the most difficult issue in the coming months? Post traumatic stress!!! Food shortages!!!
Trust you are well...When will we see you in BKK? I hope to be back down in the Delta in November and December. I truly hope you can help with some fishing nets ASAP. The season is just starting and it is during the next 3 months that the majority of the fish are caught for the year. After meeting with hundreds of villagers it was obvious that this is what is needed more than anything. Your help would be very much appreciated. Thanks, KM

Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2008 6:59 PM
From: Burmese volunteer in Yangon

RE: The Kitchen Soup project is going great and delighted to help.
Sorry for late Reply because I was seriously ill for 3 days and I could not go anywhere. I went to clinic and now I feel better but I am coughing non-stop. I also take medicine for cough but it is not better.
I go to help every Friday to cook and deliver the food with my new friend Merlyn. We together feed the children rice and curry and also check what the monk needs for coming week to feed the children. There are 138 primary students, who can not afford to attend school so instead they come and study school lessons in this Monastery. There are 3 teachers, 5 cooks and about 15 monks at this Monastery. Last month, we made a meeting with teachers and monks to donate weekly to feed the children. After calculating, it is 250,000 kyats (approx $225USD) per week for everything. They feed the children 3 days meals (rice, vegetables, egg, meats) and 2 days snack (soft drink, cake, bread). In addition, Merilea and Merv gave donations to the monks for ceiling and roofs repairs for the Monks' accommodation and 2 toilets ( Built of bricks). The toilets are started build in last week and it can be finished in last week September. I am very happy helping to feed the children. With regards,

Date: August 20th, 2008
From: Local

It's very sad to hear so many within Yangon are living in harsh conditions in damages homes without any help. We've seen the same problem in area we are volunteering in. Our team came back on Saturday and said that they had visited the villages that were rated 2nd on the scale of disaster but they are very desperate and have not received any aid. They need basic things like food and tarpaulin and clothes as they are busy planting right now but have no food or money to sustain them. The worst hit villages are now been well cared for. We are therefore concentrating still on getting food and clothing to those villages that are hardest to reach and have not received aid yet.
Yes, everyone is busy focusing on the Delta. However, I will see if there is anyone with the organization and infrastructure to help. Everyone's funding is for the Delta regions. I think any work in Yangon would be dependent on if you were able to raise the funds for this. Hope you can!

Date: August 13th 2008
From: Julie wrote:

Wow Nina!
You are doing a lot of stuff! You work so hard! That’s really amazing that you were able to raise that much money, though I knew you aimed for more. My trip to Inle Lake was very good! Golden Island Cottages Resort Hotel was the nicest hotel I stayed at during all of my travels by far! The manager and all the hotel staff were super nice to me. And Joe took me everywhere! We saw the library you set up and the children were so adorable. Then I met up with one of the staff to Mandalay and she took me and another traveler on a really great tour of all the sights. I was even taken to the fresh market and our guide bought me a bouquet of roses for 50 cents! Then I went to Bagan with a traveler friend I made. I think this was my favorite part of Burma! But unfortunately, on our second day there we were told that buses were going to cease running for the next 4 days because the price of fuel had risen to high. So that if we needed to get to Yangon we would have to leave that night. Of course everyone was trying to get on buses and we ended up paying 20 dollars to sit in the aisle! While we were traveling we had no idea the amount of damage the cyclone had caused. There was not much shown on the news. When we got to Bagan there was no telephone or internet connection. And then when we got to Yangon there was no telephone, internet or even electricity. The damage was very bad. Lots of power lines knocked over. Huge trees fallen into streets and buildings. I did manage to take some pictures. Unfortunately, I was mugged when I got to Chiang Mai and had my camera stolen with all the pictures as well as my passport and money. I am most heartbroken at having lost all of my pictures.
So anyways, I am not sure when I would be able to talk with you on the phone! I am doing lots of visiting out of town before heading off to Istanbul to teach. If I don't get to talk to you, then keep up your good work! And thank you for all your tremendous help in Burma! We loved Myanmar and loved meeting Joe, Sheila and visiting the hospital! Sarah says hi! Take care, Julie

Date: Sunday, 10 August 2008
From: Expat residing in Yangon

Hope and resilience: A lady hawker story
I walked out of my apartment today to go & buy something at the pharmacy & a lady selling Myanmar homemade snacks, whom I had talked to before, was coming down our little lane. When she saw me, she broke into a smile and said, 'Auntie, you're still here. I haven't seen you for so long so I thought that you had left.' When I asked her how she was, she said, 'Oh, I'm not very well. I'm losing my voice so I can't call out what I'm selling very well.' She looked very thin. I asked her if she had sold much that day. She then took down the big pot on her head & showed me the banana-leaf wrapped snacks in the pot. There were probably around 40 left. I asked her how much they were & she said, 'The usual. 200 kyats each (about 15c.). I said that I would like to buy some, but she said, 'No. I'm going to give you some.' I didn't feel good about that, but I could tell that she would not feel good if I paid for it, so I said, 'Why don't you come into my apartment for a little while so we can visit.' She agreed to that, but she was still insisting on just giving me some of her snacks, so I said, 'Why don't we trade our snacks? I'll eat yours & you can eat mine & we can have a cup of green tea together.' So, that's what we did. I had forgotten that last year I had asked her how many children she had (5) and that I had given her clothes for her children, until she reminded me.
Then she started telling me all about her family & what had happened to them when the cyclone hit. She said that their little house in Dawbom (across the river} the roof blew off & the walls of their house fell down, so they were in the rain all night. She wasn't able to sell for the next week, so they didn't have anything to eat except for 4 condensed milk cans of rice, that was distributed one day. Her husband, who is a construction worker - daily laborer - has no work during rainy season. After about a week she was able to start selling again, but they didn't have any money for repairing their house until she was able to save up enough, over 3 weeks, to buy a tarpaulin, for 12,000 kyats (about $10) that her husband then made into a roof for their house. Whenever it rained, they would all run to a tea shop & sit until the rain stopped, or, if it rained at night, they would all try to sit under any place that gave some shelter. Up to now they haven't been able to fix the walls, so the rain comes in the sides & they get wet. Her children range in age from 4 to 15. She is 35 years old. She's been able to put the 4 oldest in school, but, the last 2 years her 15 year old dropped out of school because he felt embarrassed that he couldn't the donations of money that the teacher asked the children to bring. She's thought of letting him work in a tea shop, but really, in her heart, doesn't want to do that as she said, 'Children this age should still be playing.' He stays at home & looks after the 4 year old & also takes his 3 siblings to & from school. She was able to save up enough money to buy the 3 children 1 uniform each, so, when they come home, he takes their uniforms to his aunt to wash & then dries them (by the fire if it's raining). She said it was good when school started - June 1st - because then the children could be in a safe, dry place all day. She herself has only 1 blouse & 1 loungji. At night she washes her loungji & dries it by the fire. However, she showed me how the bottom of it got burned because she fell asleep the other night while she was drying it. She has to go out selling every day, as otherwise they don't have anything to eat. She never steals & has taught her children not to. She also never borrows, as she's afraid to because they ask 40% interest. If they don't have something, they do without. One time her youngest was crying to her that he was hungry, so she said, 'Just a minute.' & she went & had her hair cut off & sold it so he would have something to eat. Her hair is very dull, which shows she's malnourished. She wanted to stay home today, because she was losing her voice, but the thought of her children being hungry made her go out to sell. She buys the snacks from a woman who makes it and then tries to sell everything she has, but some days, especially when it's raining, like it has been for the last 4 days, she doesn't make much profit. When she was selling today, it started to rain, so, she sat down on the stairs of the hospital. She was feeling really bad, but just then someone came & bought 1,000 kyats worth. Then, she walked around the corner & started down my little lane and she saw me!
I tried to think of what I could give her that she might accept. Because she accepted clothes the last time, I got a jacket of mine & a t-shirt that I gave her. I didn't have any children's clothes at the house. I also got all of the pencils I have & a pad of paper for her children to use at school. I told her that, for the sake of the children, I wanted to give her the money, 20,000 kyats (about $16) to buy tarpaulin for the sides of her house. At first she said she wouldn't take it, but, when I told her that she should take it now, and then when they are doing better financially, she can repay me. She brightened up then and accepted the money. I could tell that she was depressed & really wanted to talk. As she was telling me all of this, the tears would come to her eyes & she said, 'I don't know what I've done so that I have such a hard life, but I just want a better life for my children.' I told her what a good job she was doing by making sure her children went to school, even though she can't read herself, and by raising them so well. We talked for about 45 minutes. Then we went out together - she to go home & me to go to the pharmacy. She held my hand as we walked down the lane & told me to be careful that I didn't slip & fall. She also told me to please go to her home with her next Sunday as she really wanted me to visit. I didn't tell her that foreigners aren't allowed to go across the river without permission - just told her that I would be away, but that maybe, when rainy season is over I could come.
This isn't a very dramatic story or anything, but it shows the lovely hospitable nature of many people here, even in the midst of SO much poverty and, on top of that, the extra problems that have come to them because of the cyclone - not just in the Delta area, but here in the peri-urban townships of Yangon. Of course there are also many who steal & lie and some of the children who are really rude and difficult, but I appreciate SO much these people, especially the women, who are trying their best in the midst of such hardships - makes my problems very, very insignificant. P.S. I just read something: 'Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.'

Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 8:42 PM
From: Local NGO worker

HI, Greetings from Yangon. Yesterday we went to visit several villages on the opposite side of river with a new guide because foreigners can't go with us. We talked also with several locals along the way. Oh a very poor area with the houses submerged in water. Sending you some pictures I took. We will be going there on Sunday to buy some food and give it to some families, so I will be using some of the money from our own meal fund. There is a big school nearby but it seems impossible to give to everyone from our own meal fund because there's a lot of students to feed, maybe when we go there next time I will try to learn more of some possibilities. Next trip we will give some money to a few mother’s to start little businesses of selling fruits in town. I don't know really know whom to help since all the people are so poor and a lot of them, maybe a thousand families or more. We talked with the village chief and he said there is no problem with the government interfering. Continued......
Date: August 10th 2008
We have gone twice to across the river; the first was just plain visits and the second time we brought some food stuff to give to some 80 families, candies and biscuits to some children. The needs in that place is so enormous with more than a thousand families living in very poor condition, the picture you received is only a small portion, of the 80 families we have given food. In addition, there are 4 widows and I am sure there are many HIV positive people too. I can not make any commitment about helping this one village because the needs are so great. But if you like to help people there which I know you are very willing I should recommend that a Burmese staff who knows something on community organizing should be the one to manage the project, I will certainly help in what ever way I can but I cannot do it on my own...too much needs to be done. Continued.....

Date: August 16th 2008
From: Local NGO worker

Sorry for responding so very late. I have been in bad shape the last days; I was down with flu after the visit and giving out of food across the river. I am better now. Thanks for the vegetables seeds but as of now they cannot yet be planted because this village like many others is still submerged in water. Not unless we buy pots and soil so people could plant vegetables in pot but also there is the problem of stealing in the neighborhood. I don't know during summer if it possible to plant vegetables in their backyard, Also, their are alot of poor families so how can we choose whom to help. Some families that we were not able to give food last time complains because they are all neighbors to the families who received food but we told them they will be the one to be given next time. Next step is find sisters working with people in this area. Thanks,

Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 4:04 PM
From: Myanmar based Foreign Relief Worker
 
Dear Nina,
    Just to let you know that I have the 2 receipts for $20,000 and will mail them to you.   Will also enclose a report.
    I just want to add, that, from what I have heard here on the ground, XYZ is doing a very good job of responding quickly to the needs in the Delta.     It is very providential that XYZ already had  a presence  in that area because of the Tsunami. These local organizations are much more able to respond quickly than either the INGOs or the UN as they don't have all of the bureaucracy to deal with, so I would encourage you, in your fund raising, Nina, to continue to donate to local NGOs rather than to the INGOs.
      We at ABC Foundation are developing supporting materials and training for the surviving children's psycho/emotional needs, which we will offer to all of those who are caring for or working with children, as this is a need that is not being addressed by others.
      Thanking all of you for what you are doing (please copy your donors this as well) for this disaster  which has hit  the people of this country who have already (and continue to) suffer so much.
All the best,
 
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 1:46 AM
From: Local hotel manager
 
Dear Mrs. Nina,
I had missed your friend in Yangon. I apologized to her for my late contact due to difficulty of internet access. There are 20 houses needs for 20 families which will cost about $1000/ for all.   It will cost about $ 50USD per small house to help set them.
 
The market prices have settled down somewhat. At first prices skyrocketed to 20 50% of normal. Here are the answers to the questions asked by visitors to your website:
1. One rice bag in Yangon for Kyats-26000 ($ 26USD), this is normal standard one.
2. One liter of cooking oil will cost Kyats- 5000 ($ 5USD).
3. Income for Nursery teacher would be about Kyats- 30000 per month ($ 30USD)
4. Income for Doctor would be Kyats- 120000 ($ 120USD) per month, but this is salary from  government.
5. General worker can make money about Kyats-25000/ ($ 25USD per month.
6. Daily wages would be Kyats- 1500 ($1.50 USD)
7. Bus fare will cost at least kyats- 350 to 500 per day   (.35 cents to .50 cent per day).
8. Daily expense for family would be about Kyats- 2500/ per day ($2.50USD) to purchase a daily amount of plain rice , cooking oil and 1-main dish and 1-side dish.
So it is necessary for all the family to work everyday just to eat!
Trust you are well.
 
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 11:35 PM
From:   Expat medical doctor in Yangon
Subject: update
 
Hi John and Nina,
Good to hear from you again.
The situation here is mixed.
We were lucky to be able to move 200 staff and 9 international staff [10 days ago] to the delta. We can reach > 200,000 people but can't cover the whole area.
Most organizations are extremely slow. So as a result there are still many people without help and that is a shame.
There are hundreds of expats moving from meeting to meeting doing absolutely nothing. Completely crazy.
We are still drowning in work. Didn't have a single day off since 3 May and see no days off coming anytime soon.   Absolutely no time for the moment.
Cheers
 
 Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:30 AM
From: A Myanmar NGO observer

Subject: update from Lepta Township
 
Three camps have been setup in a football stadium and on a golf course. Yesterday supplies were delivered to 670 families staying in the football stadium. And the distribution of supplies continues daily in the two other camps.
 About 3200 families are living in 1160 tents. Some villagers have come back from villages to the camp as it is not feasible for them to live in villages. Water is also the main issue in villages.   More and more families are coming and the more tents are built up each day.
The township is trying to reopen the schools with no fees to be charged to students, to accept any student even without official transfer certificate and no need to wear school uniforms.   Thirty-six schools to be constructed by a private company with a donation of 110,000 roofing sheets.2000 roofing sheets have been received and also school tents are being provided.   It appears less than 50% of schools in this rural area can be operational by July 1st.
Water is still the most urgent need in camps.
Over the last few days 1000 families have been sent back to their villages with donations of tarpaulin, bucket, jerry can and soap distributed through NGOs.
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 8:37 PM
From: Save the Children Myanmar
Subject: May 26th Update
 
Distributions:
·                 Save the Children has now reached a total of 208,953 people.
·                 In Yangon 124,259 in the Western Delta 69,510 and in the Eastern Delta 15,184.
·                 Save the Children are distributing food, water purification tablets, plastic sheeting for shelter and protection, kitchen equipment and re-hydration salts to families whose homes have been destroyed.
Assessments:
·                 Child Protection: Assessments will shortly be taking place in Mawlamyinegyun are also being planned for the Kyauktan township and Ma U Pin.
·                 Health: A team has gone to Mawlamyingeyun to conduct an assessment.
·                 Nutrition: We are continuing assessment in Myaungmya and starting an assessment in Pyapon tomorrow.
Advocacy
·                 There have been improvements in access over the past week and people are being reached, but more assistance is needed to respond to the scale of need and prevent a higher death toll.
·                 Save the Children cautiously welcome the potential for progress after the ASEAN talks on 18 May which ended with an agreement for Myanmar to open up to more aid from ASEAN countries and accept 300 medical experts from ASEAN countries. It is important that the 300 ASEAN medical experts who are given entry are experienced in medical humanitarian response, have supplies of vital drugs and equipment on hand, have unrestricted access to all areas affected by the cyclone and are able to build upon the work of other agencies to carry out independent assessments in affected areas in the upcoming days.
·                 Children make up some 40% of the deaths of this crisis, and nearly half of the survivors.   Save the Children is particularly concerned about reports of lower respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea in children and the high risk from malaria and dengue fever. We also expect that pregnant women have poor access to safe deliveries and neonatal care. Water and sanitation programming, as well as health and hygiene, will be vital to save lives.   Save the children is currently operating a floating clinic with Mercy Malaysia in the delta area but is concerned about access to all those affected especially given the lack of basic health services for babies and reproductive health services for women. There are also concerns about children 's nutritional status
·                 Child protection: Dangerous threats to children 's protection often follow in the aftermath of natural disasters. There have already been reports about trafficking of children and dangers in the IDP camps.   Save the Children is particularly concerned about the separation of children from their parents, extended families or improvised foster families.   In desperation children are often handed over to organisations and groups by their families in the belief they will be better off.  
·                 Education: Children's needs are best assessed and responded to when education and protection sectors work closely together. Education is too frequently an under-funded and under-recognised emergency sector.  
·                 Food security / livelihoods: While focus on immediate needs remains critical, real investment is needed now to strengthen food security.
 
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:48 PM
From: A visitor just returning from Yangon
Subject: Personal thoughts

The cyclone hit Yangon hard; almost all trees were damaged or uprooted. Concrete poles carrying telephone and electricity lines broke, leading to large parts of the city being cut of from electricity and telephone services. Access to water was also difficult as there was no electricity for the pumps. But Yangon city is returning back to normal as the trees and debris was cleared off the streets. Electricity and telephone lines are being repaired and people are receiving water.
 
Things are still very difficult in the outskirts of Yangon and in the Irrawaddy Division. As you well know, foreign aid workers are not allowed into the Delta region. They are turned back at the first check-point. International news focuses on the aid workers not allowed into the country, but there are several international aid workers in Yangon.   Most of them already had visas before Nargis. Others managed to receive visas from Embassies other than the one in Bangkok. They are working hard to organize aid shipments and are cooperating with local organizations to get the aid to the people.
 
Still, many affected areas have not been reached or are not receiving enough aid. One local organization visited one of the hardest hit areas. The local villagers reported that they had received almost no aid from anybody. The only aid they received was a box of biscuits dropped by a passing military helicopter. Those who survived the cyclone have moved to relatives in other areas, stayed in their village to repair their huts or moved to the camps. As far as I understand, most stay with relatives and want to return to their villages as soon as possible to rebuild their homes and move on with their lives. Also, their stay is straining the resources of their hosts.
 
The situation in the camps seems to be very difficult. Many towns cannot take more people and the government seems reluctant to let refugees move out of the affected areas. The camps are said to be overcrowded and international relief organizations seem to have problems accessing the camps. Until now, no major outbreaks of epidemics have been reported.
The first priority for the affected area is access to clean drinking water. Seawater contaminated wells and lakes during the flooding. To pump out the seawater, petrol, pumps and generators are needed. In the meantime, water purification tablets are distributed to provide safe drinking water.
 
Food security is another pressing issue. Many people lost their food supplies due to the cyclone. Basic items like rice, salt and cooking oil are needed. Relief organizations are trying to supply these items, but accessing the affected areas is difficult.
 
Apart from this, people lack clothing and access to medical treatment.
Most of the people in the affected regions are now busy rebuilding their houses as the rainy season is setting in. They are trying to rebuild their lives as fast as possible, but I believe they will need support for some time to come. Many people in Myanmar are living close to the subsistence level, an event like Nargis made life for them even more difficult. Respectfully submitted,
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:28 PM
From: NGO worker returning to Yangon from a weekend in Bangkok
 
Dear John & Nina,
You should know a few things:
1.   What you hear and see on CNN & BBC is bull shit.
2.   The Junta are doing a good job despite what you are hearing.
3.   Relief is getting to the people and the Burmese people are doing an incredible job helping their own.   They could teach the Americans a lot with respect to disaster relief.
4.   It is incredible to see the support that walks in the door each day.   It renews my faith in man kind.
Love,

Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 10:45 PM
From: Canadian Volunteer in Yangon
 
Dear John and Nina,
I actually feel very excited about the activity that I am seeing.   I truly think the Burmese Government, the local communities and the Burmese people are pulling together to solve this nightmare.   Don't believe what you see or hear on CNN or BBC.  
 
Good people all around are sending goods to the Delta everyday and returning with Video's the show the destruction, the death and what is happening at the moment including the aid being distributed.   It is truly incredible how much is happening given the tremendous difficulty with transportation.
 
The destruction is absolutely incredible.   You will have projects in this area for the rest of your life.   Best Wishes,
 

Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 5:04 AM
From: Canadian Visitor to Yangon to help.  
 
Dear Everyone,
 
I am so happy that I am here in Yangon, better than watching on TV.   It has been an incredible 24 hours.   Things are going very smoothly and very quickly.   It 's like my ideas or dreams are just happening.   How weird.
 
I came to help out a friend and a group of senior businessmen from Yangon. They have been assigned one of the hardest hit areas.   So far the cooperation from the government has been exceptional.   In addition, his group is working closely with Save the children, the British Government and several other NGOs.   I spent most of the day today at the airport walking around like I owned the airport.   We had 3 cargo planes arrive today bringingin supplies.   This included 14 boats and motors which I believe are crucial to the operation. (My dream/prayer). Certainly 14 boats will not be enough.   However, they will certainly make all of the difference in the world.
 
After unloading the flat bottom boats, I spent the rest if the day working with about 10 foreigners who are here with the British Government doing disaster relief and they are certainly a most interesting group.   Two of the men ( one has a son in Vancouver ) are here to train the Burmese to operate the boats over the next few days and before the end of the week these boats will be bring supplies into the deep south and bringing back those who are badly injured.
 
The group also has a floating boat (cruise ship) which is on its way to the assigned area and will be used as a hospital.   In addition, in a more remote area where the causalities are very high they have sent today a prefabricated building that will be used as a clinic to treat the injured.   This will be operational by the end of this week and will make a tremendous difference.   These two medical facilities are being operated by 3 medical groups and they are currently desperate for so many medical supplies.   I just trust that tomorrow some help will  walk in the door or come through the internet.
 
Today arrived  30,000 plastic sheets  which (which this group hopes to recieve 7,000)  can be used as roofs for the hundreds of  thousand of people who are homeless.   There are more planes coming tonight and it is amazing how many people are coming forward to assist.   The command centre here  has been non stop with people coming in offering to help.   It is like blessings keep coming through the door.
 
The situation in the far south is far worse then anyone could ever imagine or explain.    Transportation is a nightmare, there is a shortage of gasoline, the people have absolutely nothing and I am afraid the worst is yet to come.     It is going to get  unbelievably worst.    Please pray for all of those who are truly suffering.
 Love,
 
 
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 3:03 AM
From: Foreign NGO worker based in Yangon
Subject: Are shipment getting in?
 
Hi,  
I was doing logistics stuff last week, but we now have a team of REAL loggies here and they have taken over.   My understanding is that ALL our supplies have been received and we have not had anything seized, though I think there may have been a scuffle in the airport I'm not sure it involved us.   I heard a similar story about another org.   There was one shipment originally consigned to us without notification by an outside org and they did not notify us, but it worked out and we got the goods.  
 
So....the long and short of it is no problems so far.   But we are also buying whatever we can here to avoid the issue of the airport, so trying to minimize clearance. I can't speak for other orgs, but I have not heard of anything major.   It seems to be mostly the UN having trouble.
 
The phones are incredibly difficult these days, even inside Yangon.
   
I know the media is consumed with the idea of confiscations and frankly I think that is mostly because reporters can't go to the field to see for themselves the good work happening.   So it's easier and sexier to focus on the rumors and stuff you hear in Yangon.
 
Hope you are well and glad to hear that you may be sending funds to support local orgs.   Just FYI there is a lot of attention to them here and there is a big effort to support them  --
they need it!  
Thanks again,
 
Sent:   Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:25 PM
From: Myanmar Businessman in Yangon
Dear Mrs. Nina & Mr. John,
Greetings!
Thanks for your message and concern in this tragic moment in the country.
We, all our family members and the staff members' family are safe although there have been big damages at homes. Luckily, there hasn't been any damage at the office. We will be back functioning at normal operation as soon as the electricity and internet is back. This is the first moment the authority could start the limited internet access.
 
The Storm was indeed terrible. I and everyone in town are not yet recover from the shock. We were very very scared. It will take so much of time for the areas and people to get back to normal. As you see in the news, there are many a casualties, people homeless and there are many more problems await. 90% of the infrastructures is down. But, we pray and hope that things would recover quick. However, reconstruction everywhere is extremely slow as the damages are enormous.
 
I  and my colleagues now involve in social relief works and distribution of supplies to the victims at the storm affected areas   which will keep  us busy until things would settled down a bit. We started with help to the poor area in the neighborhood and inside Yangon as much as we can. We will gradually reach out to  remote areas by and by. As communication is seriously cut at this moment and roads are still blocked with big trees and lampposts and wire cables. it takes us very slow to get in touch with each other and to reach out to far areas. We are trying our best as much as we can for the less fortunate people. At the moment while the  assistance of well-trained UN and International search and rescue experts could reach the area, we, the locals just have to do what we can. At the same time, the materials and equipments for resettlement are very rare. At the moments, we  are focusing on the distribution of clean water, glucose powder and tablets, biscuits, t-shirts and local sarongs.

If you wish to contribute money for the victims, I will advise you with the account details of the person in Taiwan, who is reliable in this sort of money transfer, through which the money you transfer will reach us in cash in Yangon in two to three days.   Once you could advise us the amount you would contribute, I would liaise with him and advise you the account details. We will make sure your money will reach the victims with effective supplies within the shortest amount of time. I and all my colleagues are willing to volunteer to provide help to the victims, whose lives are at big risk as the clock ticks.
 
Thanks so much for your thoughts, worries, prayers and messages at this time of Natural disasters.
It provides us warmth at heart, which we and all the people in Myanmar need it at this moment.
We will keep you posted.
 
Many thanks and best regards,
Your friend in Yangon
 
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:28 AM
From: Expat NGO Medical Doctor
Hi,     We are spending the money on food [rice oil, fish, plumpy nut], plastic sheeting, water purification and medical teams with medicines.
10 team 's medical + water + food/sheeting distribution.
Money is good.
Sending stuff is not good for the moment, because up to now it seems that everything will be confiscated by the gov't.
Very very busy. Cheers,

Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:46 PM
From: Foreigner residing in Yangon
Hi Nina,
Thank you for all the information you have sent. I don't have regular access to email, so bear with me for late reply.  
 
It has been an ordeal since last Friday.   My apartment's window frame fell and all the rain, with 90 degree and 300/km wind blow, came into the room.   One of the patios became a pool with its clogged drainage, and that also caused water to leak to the floor.   All night we tried to barricade windows and doors with heavy chairs and tables.   My hands got totally red and sore for ringing towels 1000 times to get water out!   Now the city is full of fallen trees and electric wires.   Lots of magnificent trees, many of them look more than a few hundred years old, are lying on the middle of the roads.   It saddens me greatly to know that the most beautiful part of Yangon - ancient trees that kindly offer shelters from the sun and rain - is gone.   It is heart breaking to see the giant trees uprooted and lying helplessly on the roads, with their branches chopped off by people who try to get through the streets.     Huge bill boards on the streets are also bent like candy sticks.   It will be weeks before we get back electricity ¦   At the moment, our apartment has neither lights nor water ¦   Today, I am taking a refuge in UNICEF's office (hence, my access to internet : )
 
I was supposed to fly back to the USA last Sunday, but of course, no airplane landed in or flew out of Yangon.  Hopefully, I will be able to leave sometime this week.   In a meanwhile, I will ask a friend to meet Patricia and Paul when they are in Yangon.   I am afraid that I probably can do little for the project during the next 2 months as I will be very busy with my defence (PhD) in San Diego.   Don't worry I will communicate with all parties via Email till I get back to Yangon end of June.

Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 7:29 PM
From: A local Myanmar medical doctor in Yangon
Hi Nina,
Thanks for the information... the cyclone made terrible mess in here....all the biggest trees fall to the ground......road block. No electricity and official thought that it will be back after a month.

No telephone and no internet connection....accept me using UNICEF internet in Trader hotel which is still working.   Many people homeless and there is not enough drinking water and medicine in the city.

UNICEF and all the donor agencies are doing emergency preparedness and response here.  

That all for now and I will write you later
See you soon