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Relief & Rehabilitation Update
for Period: 29 March to 23 May 2009
Clarification –
In my last report, I
wrote this would be the last school ( Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing2)
before we suspend temporarily for the coming monsoon season.
However, we would resume rehabilitation project when the weather
is favourable for building. During the rainy season, material
like cement cannot get wet during transport or storage or else
it will be hardened and useless for building. These simple
minded villagers would not understand the need to be store
properly.
Some village names spelling differ and as
for me I tried to use the official version e.g. from the map.
29 March 2009
The boy hostel is under construction. The
girls would be moving into the new building after water
festival. We also visited the school at Shwegyin monastery and
paid our respects to Ven. Aggasara’s teacher before returning to
Yangon.
Boys hostel under construction
This girl from Dedaye was
orphaned by Cyclone Nargis. She was taken care by her
grandfather who could not cope due to poverty. Ven. Aggasara
asked a brother monk to fetch her.
31 March 2009
I spent half a day buying some of the
building material for the last 4 schools to be built before the
monsoon.
1 April 2009 Wednesday
Instead of going to Maw Gyun by their usual
way ( by boat ), Ven. Sopaka and Ven. Manita decided to leave
for Maw Gyun together with me. Upon arrival to Pyapon, together
with Ven. Tejaniya we went to Byaingasi village. The clinic was
almost done other than the painting. My assessment that it
should be able to finish before water festival.
2 April 2009 Thursday
We left early for Kanazo Chaung Lay village
which is about 17 miles away from Maw Gyun. It took us slightly
more than an hour which was fast because the current was in our
favour. Normally, it would take about 3 hours to reach the
village if it was an ordinary boat that ply along the route. We
stopped at newly completed Tasay Chaung school to check on the
preparation made for the medical check tomorrow before returning
to Nyein Oo for lunch.
After lunch, we proceeded to Kyaung Tawya
Aung Hlaing 2 village to meet the school committee. Since this
is a secular school under the monastery, Ven. Sopaka spoke to
the villagers about the usual conditions and also to cook for
the construction crew in order for them to expedite the
building. The villagers readily agreed to the requests.
Ven. Sopaka discussing with
the Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing 2 villagers school committee
3 April 2009 Friday
Departed
for Taman together with the mason to put up the plaque and also
expecting to settle the labour payment. For some reason unknown
to us, the village head did not mentioned to us about it when he
met us. The windows and doors are waiting to be fixed. The
government nurse who is from Mudon ( Mon state ) requested that
her bedroom to be fixed with grille. I asked Win Aung to arrange
for the grille to be done in Maw Gyun.
In the afternoon, we travelled towards the
river that leads to Myaungmya to fetch Ven. Kumara ( Ven.
Sopaka’s teacher from Pantanaw ) and the team of nurses who
would be carrying out the eye examination tomorrow.
4 April 2009 Saturday
0700 – We left for FFM built Tasay Chaung
school with the nurses. The volunteer eye doctor, Dr. Sa J Lwin,
who just arrived from Yangon in the same morning, joined us on
the boat. Another specialist did not turn up because he was on
call. Since our fibre-glass boat could not accommodate all the
supporting team, others had to leave in Nyein Oo monastery’s
boat.
Upon arrival, the
NEWLY completed
school was turned into a temporary clinic. That morning, about
100 people were examined. The volunteer nurses did the basic eye
tests like chart reading and others, leaving the more
complicated examination to the eye specialist. He was also
supported by his wife. All the villagers were informed that if
surgical operations required would be done in Maw Gyun town
hospital during the water festival.
After lunch, the check up was adjourned to
Nyein Oo village. FFM built nearly completed school was turned
into a temporary clinic. This time round, another bigger group
of patients were examined. Prior to leaving for Maw Gyun, Dr. Sa
J Lwin was shown Nyein Oo clinic which was still under
construction. He suggested that the clinic’s operation room be
located away from the afternoon sun. At this stage, it was
possible because the slab roof was not constructed and only the
brick wall was partially up. The instruction was given to the
engineer. He was happy with the size of the clinic.
On our way back, I asked Ven. Kumara whether
it was possible to do it twice yearly. He said that it costs at
least 4 million kyats to provide this type of medical care. All
the nurses are volunteers ( mostly Karen from Pantanaw town) and
are paid ONLY
transport allowance. Ven. Sopaka added running a monthly normal
mobile clinic by GP doctor would not be a problem.
The medical team was happy with FFM work in
delta area when they learned that the number and type of schools
we are building.
In the evening, I joined the eye specialist,
Dr. Sa J Lwin, to pay a courtesy call to Maw Gyun township
medical officer, Dr. Aung San. In their conversation, I learnt
that disinfection solution for Maw Gyun town hospital operation
theatre will be provided by the Pantanaw monastery for the
operation next week. All equipments for the operation would be
transported from Pantanaw. After operation, the patients would
be warded at the monastery for recovery.
Tasay Chaung – Medical team
conducting examination for the villagers.
This blind person was
abandoned during Cyclone Nargis but managed to survive.
5 April 2009 Sunday
0700 – Together with the medical team, we
left for Shauk Chaung. After all the patients were seen, the
examination was adjourned to Maw Gyun town. The checkup was done
at the monastery where I stayed.
Newly built foot path at
Shauk Chaung from the harvest of the rice seeds from FFM
donation.
I left before all the examinations were
completed. On the way to Bogale town, we stopped at Htiyali
village ( under Maw Gyun township )
to unload the pvc pipes. I met the monk who once
accompanied me to Taman village. The drilling of the well was in
the process and the villagers were hoping that it would be done
soon because fresh water is scarce. The river water is
undrinkable and they have to rely on the water to be delivered.
Incidentally, this was the village that the boat stopped for the
film crew to take pictures on the way to Maw Gyun.
6 April 2009 Monday
We went to Gwe Kone village to see the
progress of the school under construction with Ven. Tejaniya.
Ven. Tejaniya told me his application for wood was rejected by
Pyapon education official because the village is under Dedaye
township. He would try again with Dedaye education authority. We
return to Yangon soon after we arrived Pyapon.
7 April
2009 Tuesday
The previous day, I told Khin Naing to come
before lunch but he did not turn up punctually, which was a norm
for him. I received a call from his office that he met an
accident and was in Insein hospital. Ven. Sopaka sent me to the
hospital to check on his condition but he was discharged as an
outpatient which was a relief for us.
Later we visited his house, he related to us
that the pick-up that he was travelling in, had a broken tie-rod
whilst moving at high speed. Due to the driver lack of
experience, he stepped on the brakes which caused the vehicle to
topple. KN was thrown to the other side of the road. It was
fortunate for him there was no car on the opposite side of the
road.
9 April 2009 Wednesday
Left for Pantanaw with Ven. Sopaka for the
sima hall consecration ceremony in Mayan village. By the way,
Pantanaw is the home town of the late UN secretary-general, U
Thant. To reach the village, we had to travel another 9 miles.
The donor is a Karen lady who is a Buddhist and was told some of
her family members are Christians.
Mayan village, Pantanaw.
Governmernt school uncompleted due to lack of funds for 2 years.
I walked around this big village crossing a
bamboo bridge to reach the poorer side of the village. The
inhabitants are mostly Karen and incidentally the 2 groups of
skill workers who built Kanazo Chaung Lay and Tasay Chaung, come
from this village. They are good and experienced workers for RC
building. The team from Maw Gyun town who is building Phoe Chit
started ahead of them and have not completed by the time they
left for the water festival.
Their village school is half-done and they
requested to me a donation of 100 bags ( 680,000 kyats ) of
cement to finish the
building. I also noticed there are no windows and doors.
Their case is similar to Ayadaw school in Upper Myanmar which we
had helped.
2 teams of Karen skill
workers from Mayan village, Pantanaw.
12
April 2009 Sunday
Khin Naing turned up, I took the opportunity
to settle the balance payment for the doors, windows and also to
repair the punctured tyre which incurred during the crossing of
the bridge into Bogale before the water festival which begins
tomorrow.
13 April 2009 Monday - 15 April 2009
Wednesday
Monday was the first day of the water
festival which was the new year for the Myanmar people. Though I
planned to be in Maymyo for the meditation but was not able to
go, so I spent my time in Ven. Sopaka’s monastery. During the
1st four days, the water throwing did get out of hands with the
revelry in full swing. One can get thrown with ice cold and
dirty water. Most of the young let loose their inhibition and
get drunk during this period. This was also the season for those
who wish to take up temporary monkhood.
Instead of a usual hot weather during the
water festival, it was raining every day.
16 April 2009 Thursday
Despite my reluctance to get out of the
monastery, I had to pick eye 3 eye doctors and nurse with the
medicine to Bogale for the operation to be carried out for more
than hundred patients in Maw Gyun. We were fortunate to travel
in a van so we spared from getting wet. Our van was blocked
along the way, some rowdy characters insisted that we be
splashed with water and never for once did we give in.
Upon arrival at Bogale
about 1730, the water throwing was in full swing with the water
pump out from the river along the jetty and there was no way we
could escape. Since the fire department was using their water
pump for spraying, we requested the staff to tell the throwers
not to throw water at us because we were carrying medicine, they
graciously acceded to our request. When we arrived to Maw Gyun,
it was dark and we all were happy that we remained dry.
Those patients who were scheduled for the
operation tomorrow had arrived and were staying in the monastery
together with the family members. The monastery was packed with
the villagers from the outlying area of Maw Gyun township.
17 April 2009 Friday
Breakfast was early, 0700 we left for Maw
Gyun town hospital in trishaws with the doctors and nurses.
The medical team had to set up the operation
theatre themselves, by the time they got going, the first
patient was operated about 0800 hours.
The patients were sent to Maw Gyun monastery
in the hospital van for recovery. Those in queue were also house
at the monastery.
The doctors and nurses took their lunch late
and resumed the operation after a quick meal. By the time they
get back to the monastery, it was about 2200. That day, a total
of 63 patients were operated on.
During the day, we were told there was a
cyclone about 500 miles from Pathein ( Bassein ) lurking in the
Bay of Bengal possibly heading in the direction of the delta.
This time the people took the warning seriously even with the
downgrading of the information. Many did not take chances and
some patients from the villages did not turn up. So the patients
in Maw Gyun town were selected for the operations to fill the
gap.
Operation theatre in Maw
Gyun. All the operation team are volunteers. The medicine are
donated by local and oversea people.
18 April 2009 Saturday
Another early day for the medical team, the
post operations procedure were conducted in the student monk’s
quarter where the patients were housed. The patients were
briefed on the need to maintain cleanliness and others matters
pertaining on recovery. All these patients were given all the
medicine needed for their recovery.
Dr.Sa J Lwin explaining to
the patients about post operation care.
After the consultations, the eye team headed
to the hospital again for the operations. In the afternoon, one
doctor had to leave for Yangon for duties the next day. The
medical team returned from the hospital about 2000, another 42
persons were operated on for the second day.
That evening about 1600, I followed Ven.
Pandita who sent his mother back to Nyein Oo village. There I
met one of the Kyein Chaung Gyi villagers who hosted us for
lunch. He told us that the whole village was abandoned other
than the 11 persons who were assigned to guard the property. It
was a compliment to FFM because the Kyein Chaung Gyi villager
knows that the nearly completed school can be taken as a safety
shelter.
24 April 2009 Thursday
The construction crew from Pantanaw town
returned from their water festival holiday and started work on
Lower Gyo Phyu, Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing 2 and Khayandi Chaung.
Ven. Sopaka decided to drop the less experience Maw Gyun workers
who built Phoe Chit school.
1 May 2009 Friday
Departed for Maw Gyun with Ven. Aggasara, we
took the road that passes Maubin to pick Ven. Kumara who would
be presiding over the Nargis memorial service. We could not
contact Ven. Vannasiri, hence he was not in the van with us. At
Pyapon, we picked up Ven. Tejaniya and later Ven. Sopaka called
to say that Ven. Vannasiri got the dates mixed up thinking there
is 31 days in April.
2 May 2009 Saturday
We left early for Nyein Oo village for the
memorial service. More than 15 monks from the surrounding
villages attended the service. Ven. Kumara presided over the
ceremony and explained to villagers the reason that it was held
today because it was based on the Gregorian calendar.
Nargis Memorial Service
conducted by Ven. Kumara at Nyein Oo village.
He spoke that the FFM from Singapore had
sponsored the service though we are not in any way related to
the villagers and also the rehabilitation effort undertaken by
FFM.
Discussed with Win Aung on the payment for
labour charges at Taman village.
3 May 2009 Sunday
Final settlement with Taman
head man.
Completed clinic at Taman village.
7 May 2009 Thursday
Unable to leave for Shwegyin earlier as
planned because the van needed some minor repair. I carried a
generator to Shwegyin. I saw some new faces in the hostel, one
of the girls who survived and was orphaned by CN, could not walk
unaided because she was born with flat feet.
The boys’ hostel was still under
construction and the upper floor was being prepared for
concreting.
9 May 2009 Saturday
4 of us ( Ven. Aggasara, the Wa Gyi alias
fat boatman, myself and KN ) departed for Mandalay. Breakfast
was at Nyaunglebin, by the time we reached Mandalay it was 1900.
We slept at the monastery which is near to the Mahamuni temple.
For Wa Gyi, it was his 1st trip
into the upper Myanmar and mangoes was in season. Along the way,
I bought different varieties of mangoes to taste. We all agreed
after eating the best variety of mango, all others were
mediocre.
10 May 2009 Sunday
Another
very early departure, we reached Maymyo 0800. I caught up with a
friend ( civil engineer ) who lives in the town. This friend had
stayed in the delta for 3 years and taught the polytechnic
there. I sought his advice on the bridge and his comments was
favourable.
I stopped at Brahma Vihari to say hello to
the Pei Fuen and other Singaporeans who are on long retreats. We
passed the famous section of “Burma road” which is between
Nyaungcho and Kyaukme. This road was the main supply line for
the allied forces during the second world war. It descent into a
deep gorge with many windy and very steep turns. Despite being
expanded, we saw one lorry had to do a 3 point turn. KN and I
were glad that we did not proceed after our van had suffered a
breakdown in February.
Long term retreatants at
Maymyo.
Arrived Lashio in the afternoon and was
surprised the number of Chinese living there. With banners
written in Chinese outside the doors of the many houses, it
looks more like a town in China. We managed to locate Sayalay
Nyannamalar ( Bro So and I passed 10 million kyats to her for
building classrooms in February ). The construction had not
started pending approval which would be granted soon. The site
is located in a hill, overlooking the town.
Site of the school building at Lashio
After viewing the place, we left for Thibaw
( about 40 miles from Lashio ) to spend our night. Moe Moe Aye (
Dr. Sa J Lwin’s wife ) had made arrangements for us the stay in
the monastery. This temple is a replica of the Mandalay Mahamuni
temple and is taken care by Ven. Pannasiri, a Shan monk.
Thibaw town monastery.
Fatman, me, Ven. Pannasiri and Ven. Aggasara.
It has an eye clinic which was funded with
the help of Sitagu Sayadaw. Operations were carried out once
every 2 months with volunteer doctors from overseas and
Mandalay. Most patients are from the Shan area. We were shown
the facilities in the compound. It has equipments to screen the
eyes. We spent our night at the clinic ward.
11 May 2009 Monday
After bidding our host goodbye, we left
Thibaw at a more leisurely pace. We took pictures at the famous
“ Burma road”, there was an unexpected hurricane soon after we
finished taking pictures. When we arrived Maymyo, we saw many
lamp posts felled and our intention to be in Shwegyin within the
same day was not possible. We left the decision to KN and had to
night stop at Htantabin unannounced.
Famous “Burma Road” in the
background.
12 May 2009 Tuesday
We bid Ven. Kevala goodbye and proceeded our
way to Shwegyin. Upon our arrival, we were told the concrete
pouring for the boys hostel was not completed due to the rain
and the engineer who was expected to supervise the job whilst we
away, had left without seeing through the job. We felt that he
was irresponsible, the people tasked with the job was at a loss
and could not cope. The situation was compounded low water
supply due to no electricity for the past few days. It was
fortunate we arrived in the nick of time to salvage the
situation.
We swung into action and completed the job
in 6 hours. We pump the water with the generator I brought to
Shwegyin whilst Ven. Aggasara organized the crew. Our boatman
and driver helped in the job.
Ven. Aggasara supervising
the concrete pouring for the boys hostel – Shwegyin.
Relaying concrete in a wok. ‐ Shwegyin
13 May – 23 May 2009
Upon my return from Shwegyin, I tried to
settle all the matters in preparation for my return to
Singapore. In Yangon, I made arrangement to send all the
building materials, engine compressors and others to the delta.
So on 16 May, Ven. Sopaka, together with the Maw Gyun volunteers
left for the delta. Though we left early we were not able to
make it to Pyapon for lunch due to an accident that occurred
after the Bayintnaung Bridge.
Ven. Tejaniya had waited for us, upon
arrival we left for Kyonthin village school and it was finally
completed. Upon our
return from Kyonthin, we traveled to Bogale to catch the boat
for Mawgyun town.
After lunch we departed for Khayandi Chaung
in Bogale township
The following schools and clinics were
completed;
-
Tasay Chaung ( Mawlemyine
Township )
-
Kanazo Chaung Lay (
Mawlemyine Township )
-
Phoe Chit ( Mawlemyine
Township )
-
Kyonthin ( Pyapon Township )
-
Byaingasi clinic ( Pyapon
Township )
-
Nyein Oo Middle School (
Mawlemyine Township )
-
Upper Gyo Phyu ( Mawlemyine
Township )
-
Lower Gyo Phyu ( Mawlemyine
Township )
-
Taman Clinic ( Bogale
Township )
-
Nyein Oo Clinic ( Mawlemyine
Township )
-
Khayandi Chaung ( Bogale
Township )
Well
Since our program to provide tube well for
all the schools and the villages in Maw Gyun, Ven Sopaka was
inundated with many requests to build well in their villages.
The wells in the following villages were
completed;
-
Shauk Chaung
-
The Pye Chaung
-
Upper Gyo Phyu
-
Nyein Oo
-
Phoe Chit
-
Tasay Chaung
-
Kanazo Chaung ( Only water
tank, one local Ngo built the well )
-
Lower Gyo Phyu
-
Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing 2
-
Khayandi Chaung ( Bogalay
Township )
-
Tat Tat Ku
-
Anyasu
-
Ngak Thaik
-
Myathar Ywawa
-
Myathar Zeephyu
-
Htiyali
-
Lamudabin
-
Myinkagone
-
Badegaw
According to Ven. Sopaka, he had done 20
wells however one was lost due to water being too salty. Though
the water table is high in Maw Gyun township. Drinking water can
only be accessed by drilling to a depth of more than 500 feet.
Some places the depth is closer to 600 feet.
Thks/Metta,
chan
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