THAPAUNG, Irrawaddy Delta — Although they live in thatch huts on stilts
up to six feet high, flooding is still an unwelcome annual visitor for those
living on farmland stretching across the Ngawun River in the Irrawaddy
Delta—the rice bowl of Burma.
“As we live in a low-lying area,
floods are not a big deal for us. But this one is unusual,” said Daw Hmway of
Shin Gyi Pyauk Village by Thapaung, a provincial town more than 20 miles from
the divisional capital Pathein (Bassein).
A heavy deluge caused the river
to rise four feet above its danger level of 17 feet last week, she said. Water
started to lap the bamboo floor of her stilted hut—an experience which
astonished the 70-year-old who last encountered such levels in 2004.
While sitting in the village
monastery where she and dozens of other people have sought refuge for the last
two weeks, Daw Hmway told The Irrawaddy that she was afraid because the
flooding has already destroyed 18 houses in her village.
“It’s quite alarming for us,” she
said. “The water shakes our hut. What if our house falls down? That’s why we
are staying here now.”
Daw Hmway is one of more than
80,000 people who have been affected by this year’s unusually strong monsoon.
Situated in a flood plain, more
than 10,000 acres of farmland in Thapaung are now submerged, according to
figures from the township’s Irrigation Department, creating a vast expanse of
water as far as the eye can see.
The division’s relief management
committee said 24 out of 26 townships in the whole delta region have been hit
by torrential rain and floods this month—a big blow to Burma’s annual rice
yield as local farmers contribute 20 percent of national production.
“It’s taken for granted that
every affected farmer will resume their work as soon as the water subsides. But
the problem is that they don’t have any capital for tools and seeds. The
relevant authorities have to think strategically for the good of farmers and
production,” said the director of a rice wholesale company in Rangoon who asked
to remain anonymous.
On a recent visit to some
affected villages in Thapaung, The Irrawaddy witnessed flood victims still
reeling from their dreadful experience—staying at village primary schools and
monasteries, which are usually built on higher ground and hastily converted
into relief camps.
“Even though we don’t have enough
food, we have to share what we have,” said U Wimala, the abbot of Aye Myitta
Monastery in Shin Gyi Pyauk. His rickety premises are now sheltering dozens of
flood victims.
The government was quick into
action late last week when a quantity of rice was delivered to every household
in the affected area—ahead of other informal relief efforts organized by
well-wishers.
“Yes, we had the government
relief supply but it is only 0.14 bushels [less than one gallon]. We have 10
family members. It’s not enough,” complained Sandar Cho, a mother-of-four from
Kya Ku Village.
The local primary school has been
forced to close and is currently packed with flood victims ranging from a
coughing old man to breast-feeding mums and children who a fortnight ago would
recite lessons here. A few pigs are tethered in the corner while a distressed
rooster crows every five seconds.
When the floodwater reached the
floor of his house last week, Aung Thein hurriedly assembled a makeshift
platform at a higher level in the living room to accommodate his sick father
and five-year-old son. The new structure is now so close to the roof that it
leaves no room for the occupants to stand up.
“Thank god the water is now
receding. If not, we would be amongst those staying at the school,” the
35-year-old farmer told The Irrawaddy while waiting for relief supplies to
arrive.
Contrary to others in the delta
region, people from villages in Thapaung generally do not work during the rainy
season.
“Every field is inundated when
the rains come so we can only work in the winter and summer. Economically, the
flood doesn’t affect us very much. But socially, it’s disastrous,” said Thein
Zaw Oo, the administrator of Kya Ku Village.
“Now we can only think about
food. But the problem that lies ahead is how we can rebuild our houses which
were damaged by the flood. It gives me a headache,” said Htwe Ye, whose hut in
Ka Tat Yoe Village was destroyed by the flood.
For two weeks now Mya Myint Zu
has stayed away from school as it has been converted into a relief camp. The
fifth grader always outsmarts her classmates in every exam and aspires to be a
teacher.
Asked whether she was happy not
to have any homework to do as the school is now closed, she replied, “Yes, but
not very much.
“I want to go back to school. I
miss my friends and lessons too.”
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