Mizzima News

Over 100 cyclone victims arrived in Mae Sod, the Thai-Burma border based cyclone victim's assistance group said.

The 100 cyclone victims belong to the worst hit Irrawaddy Division. They are being helped by the 'Emergency Assistance Team-Burma' (EATB) which was formed on the border after the killer cyclone lashed Burma.

"Eight cyclone victims arrived here this morning. They were given food for a month and 1,000 Baht each in cash," Saya Mann Mann, spokesperson of EATB told Mizzima.

EATB said that they would contact and coordinate with UN agencies and NGOs to get more assistance for the cyclone victims who are arriving on the border.

"Some said they left their children in their home towns and villages and they came alone. They said that they would go back home if we provide them necessary assistance," Saya Mann Mann said.

EATB comprises the 'National Health and Education Committee' (NHEC), Mae Taw clinic of Dr. Cynthia Maung, 'Human Right Education Institute of Burma' (HREIB), 'Burma Medical Association' (BMA) and other volunteers and charity organizations. EATB is now delivering aid to about 40,000 cyclone victims in the affected areas.

EATB was formed after Cyclone Nargis struck Burma on an emergency basis and is now working with 40 networks inside Burma and focusing on delivering aid to remote cyclone-hit areas.

"EATB is comprised of education, health and social organizations based here. This team is seeking fund for cyclone victims from the international community and distributing the funds to all religious organizations from all faiths – Buddhists, Christians among other religious and social organizations. These organizations will deliver aid to the cyclone victims in affected areas," Naw Phaw Re, Chairman of NHEC said.

Though the team was first intended for about 40,000 victims, now it can access about 120,000 to 150,000 people, the team's report said.

The cyclone victim's fund is estimated at about 18 million Baht and so far it has delivered 10 million Baht.

The fund will be used not only for emergency relief, but also for long term reconstruction and rehabilitation work, Saya Mann Mann said.

"It will be more convenient for them if we can provide them with assistance for sustainable survival in their home towns and villages rather than coming to the border," he added.

The killer Cyclone Nargis which struck on May 2 and 3 left over 130,000 people dead or missing and 2.5 million homeless in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions.

UN agencies which are delivering aid to cyclone victims said that over 1 million people have not yet received any assistance and aid even one month after the cyclone.