Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - “We can confirm the negative signs in light of the general situation of Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. There is a great concern, however it is still impossible to offer exact numbers as to the toll of victims. The number of dead could continue to rise, but in the current situation as is, we cannot make an estimate of, for example, 100,000 victims; the situation is still very uncertain and unclear.” This was what Paolo Beccegato, head of the international section of Caritas Italy said, as he is following the evolution of the situation in the Asian country, minute by minute. He said, “We are talking about a catastrophe of devastating proportions that has had terribly drastic consequences due to a lack of prevention taken in the onslaught of the Cyclone.” At least in the tsunami of 2004, the political authorities acknowledged the gravity of the event and made information known as to what was happening and showed a certain willingness to accept aid. “Now the words have to be followed by actions,” Caritas sources said. However, although it is true that on the part of authorities, “there is a certain suspicion regarding anything that comes from the outside, we should also point out that the same happens in other countries in similar situations. Also, it is important to point out that Myanmar is fairly large and has a considerable quantity of resources that could be used in this situation.”
The worst damages have been to the crops, buildings, and houses. Also, the waters have still not receded from one of the areas and this has complicated damage assessment. The capital of the country, Yangon, has become a kind of desert, as trees and metallic structures have been leveled, pipes have ruptured and the clean water and sewer water have mixed together, causing a considerable increase in the risk of epidemics. It is a risk that would normally be met with the immediate installation of water purifiers and taking intervention measures among the population. Thus, if action is not taken immediately, Caritas says, the situation could become even more drastic.
There is also the factor of the roads, that have been destroyed by the cyclone and the pools of stagnant water that have arisen in parts of the territory, which both present a difficulty in trying to reach those areas. Working to resolve this difficult situation are the 14 Catholic diocese of the country, four of whom have been directly struck by the tragedy. “Priests, religious, and volunteers are working to provide aid,” said Beccegato. “The local agencies of Myanmar are mostly made up of Catholic personnel who are right now helping to bring a bit of relief to the people. The parishes are taking in refugees and distributing aid.” The Church, who is committed to the aid activities for the people in such areas as agriculture, water systems, and schooling, has placed all its attention and resources at the service of the people affected by this event. The United Nations is doing its part, having recently launched a campaign to collect aid for Myanmar and have asked authorities in the country to open the borders to admit outside aid. (Mtp) (Agenzia Fides 9/5/2008; righe 40, parole 535)
