PRAY FOR BURMA by Mousson
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Description
May 10, Irrawaddy
The smell of death and destruction - Min Khet Maung / KungYanGone
(The correspondent has returned from Kungyangone Township after
interviewing several survivors of Cyclone Nargis.)
Thirty-five miles from Rangoon, the air smells of death. Dead bodies and
the rotting cadavers of buffaloes lie in the gutters of this town, so near
Burma’s largest city and the country’s once proud capital.
Overhead, a cruel sun beats down on the homeless who seek shelter amid the
ruins of their houses.
Multimedia (View)
Pu Suu, 14, cowers under a tattered umbrella, as she cooks a pot of rice
to feed the other five survivors of her family. A younger sister lies sick
and crying in her mother’s arms.
“This might be our last pot of rice,” says Pu Suu with resignation.
Four thousand of Kungyangone’s residents are thought to have died when the
cyclone hit one week ago.
The survivors have been assured by the authorities that the town has
enough supplies to feed all. One member of the town’s Union Solidarity and
Development Association
said the organization is delivering enough rice to the storm victims,
pointing at the sacks of rice in his house. Building materials were being
handed out to people to rebuild their demolished homes, he said.
Yet his neighbor Ko Tin, 40, whose house was swept away by the storm, said
he and the five members of his family had received only four cans of rice
a day. Burma people use an empty condensed milk can as a measurement, and
one person normally requires more than one and a half of cans of rice per
day. They had not received any building materials, he said.
A woman in her fifties said her household of 18 people was also receiving
just four cans of rice a day. Her children and grandchildren lay hungry on
the floor around her. “I tell them to go in search of food and wood and
fetch it by hook or by crook.”
Some residents say donors of aid are forced to leave the supplies and cash
with the security forces stationed in the center of the small town.
“This deters the flow of donations from outside [the town],” said a
35-year-old teacher. “People don’t believe their honesty, because people
know they [the security forces] will try to win the hearts of the people
with the food the donors give.”
Members of the security forces patrol the streets, but none seems
interested in the plight of the homeless.
Tun Than, 44, supervises the care of more than 800 homeless in a local
monastery. He points to three policemen walking through the monastery
compound and says: “We don’t need the police. There are no more homes to
protect. We just need rice.”
Comments (91)
busi2ness
It's a moving picture and one which tells once again of politics being behind human nature. Sad...
tennesseecowgirl
So so sad...
dbyrd
Thank you for this. It has been hard for me to not be too emotional over the happenings in Burma and China.
novelist
Keep getting the word and photos out so that others can see and learn. It's important. I'm so sorry this is happening . . .
mickuk50
such a sorry state of affairs this situation :o( mick
Gise
great capture- thank you for posting.
atsoram
great work, beautifully captured !!
MaraP
I have no words to describe what I feel reading this... Sad, so so sad!! I pray for the survivors, may God keep them safe!!!!
Jaml
Impresionante crónica de la dura realidad diaria. Un mundo mal repartido. La fotografia es excellente. Bravo!!!
LBJ2
Mousson..You have a master eye for capturing people. Beautiful portrait. I'm praying for Burma... even if it takes more than a prayer to clean up the mess after the terrible natural catastropher. It always amaze me to see a child in such a situation... smile from the heart. It makes a big impact. Knowing how wealthy the western world is... i really hope the west will use their wealth for something good.
mtc
Quelle situation épouvantable, mais aussi quelle belle image d'un enfant qui a un si joli sourire! Merci de nous partager cette photo Rosely!
sassydog
Pray indeed! May God help them get the food & aid they so desperately need. Heart-breaking!
chaylastorm
It's now the 19th and from what I'm hearing things still haven't improved. My heart goes out for the Burmies people who have to live under such a heartless reigme.
marybelgium
feel so sorry for them...
gunsan
Oh..the poor people, your writing is heartbreaking, but the photo of this child is an atidote to the misery. In our children lies the future, and out from this portrait only good spirits come.
HeartsRender
Fabulous portrait!
koogie
Words can't express. My prayers are for Burma. Exprime can' ; t exprès. Mes prières sont pour la Birmanie.
cannonn
superb shot!!!!!!!!!
ShadowsNTime
Gosh I am sure sorry I missed this beautiful image! Such a tragedy, I sincerely hope things are better now. My thoughts are with them even now...
junge1
Beautiful!
popeslattz
Such a sad situation. Amazing how resilient children can be. Great shots on your site. I wish all the best for these people.
Cgaynor
Humans treating humans in an inhumane manner -horrible/sad.
three_grrr
I don't think I can write what I really think, I don't want to be thrown off Rendo. These are the kinds of things that happen when the dictators of a poor country are too proud, too greedy, and too powerful. I followed this travesty in the news, and I thought of you and how your heart is in this country. It is a shame that foreign aid, thought offered and waiting, was not allowed in. All news coverage has pretty much ceased now of this in our country, and I wonder how much progress has been made. Here, they are still rebuilding from the Katrina disaster, again, politics working.
moonrancher
Excellent image and documentary. Indeed, Pray for the people of Burma. Sad times.
Darkwish
I like this shot! Nice pic!
marcopolinski
Thanks for your important attention and conscious raising!!!!!!
sandra46
YOU'RE DOING A SUPERLATIVE WORK!!!!!! GREAT REPORTAGE!
mariogiannecchini
Fantastic portrait of the poor soul,Wonderful work.
kasalin
What a beautiful idea and capture !!! 5* I agree with the other members here :) Please show us more !!!!!!!!!!!! And all the best for you and yours :) :) :) !!! Hugs Karin :)
jarmila
Beautiful shot!!!I love so budhist spiritual places