Thousands of Giri Victims Still Homeless

Mray Bon: Thousands of cyclone victims in Arakan State are still living in temporary huts two months after Giri struck the area as they have been unable to repair their damaged homes due to the high price of local construction materials, said villagers.

A teacher from Mray Bon Township said, "We have not been able to repair our home ourselves due to the high price of construction materials like bamboo, timbers, and nipa palms. We are still staying in temporary huts without homes in poor conditions." 

The price of bamboo is up to 30,000 kyat for 100 pieces since the cyclone hit, while the price of stitched palm leaf flaps is over 30,000 kyat for 1,000 pieces. 

In Arakan State, the homes are traditionally constructed with nipa palm and wood pillars. 

"We build the roof of homes with nipa palms and wells of home with bamboo in our state. The prices of such materials are going up recently. All residents have given up repairing their homes that were damaged during the Giri attack in Arakan State," he said. 

The people of Arakan in cyclone-affected areas are still living in poor conditions as they have no homes, but there has been no relief aid to help them rebuild. 

A housewife in Taung Sai Kan in Mray Bon Township said that in the area of Taung Sai Kan, there are over 40 villages, but no one has received any plastic sheets, canvas, or tents. Neither the government nor NGOs have provided any material for home repairs in the area. 

Dr. Pyo Win, a senior member of the NGO Mingla Myanmar, said, "We are working for cyclone affected areas in Mray Bon and Kyauk Pru Townships, but we can not provide materials for home construction due to lack of funds. We already discussed with the UNDP to provide local products such as timber, bamboo, and nipa palm to cyclone victims to repair their homes, but we can not implement it because we have not yet received any assistance for the matter." 

However, his organization is trying hard to get some funds for home repairs, he added. 

Most Giri victims throughout Arakan State are extremely anxious for their health because the cold season is just starting. Many people will have their health affected if they are living in temporary huts without roofs and wells during the cold season.