Fire, Water and Soldiers
One of our local volunteers in the Magway region has written this update concerning the hardships that these rural people are now facing. Unsafe water can lead to a number of waterborne diseases, including cholera, dysentery, and Typhoid fever, which can be deadly. In addition to diseases, unsafe water can also lead to malnutrition. When people do not have access to clean water, they are more likely to suffer from dehydration, which can lead to a number of health problems, including malnutrition. Malnutrition can cause a number of problems, including stunted growth, mental retardation, and even death. The consequences of unsafe water can be devastating, particularly for young children. Gastrointestinal illnesses, such as diarrhea, are a leading cause of death in children under the age of five, and unsafe water is a major contributor to these diseases. In addition, respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, are also a serious health risk for children living in communities with inadequate access to clean water. For this reason, we are trying to support these local villages as much as we are able to with increased access to safe drinking water, and any contribution will be much appreciated!
“Chuin Zauk, Nyan Rin, Gwe Gong and Sathein Villages are located in the northern part of Pauk Township, Magway province. They are well known for lacking water. Villages are not close to drains and lakes, and even if they dig wells, they only encounter water which is unfit for drinking. There are only two ways to get water. The first one is from spring water and the second is from various donations.
A resident of Chuin Zauk Village told us about the drought: ‘Drought is normal for us. When some families use water they put small buckets where the used water goes so that they can reuse their drinking water in other areas. In the pre-Covid era, companies and NGOs used to conduct surveys and dig 500-meter wells for water but had no luck.’ Among these difficulties, the economy of the people living in that village also suffered because of Covid-19, making it increasingly difficult to ensure adequate water supplies.
From 16.8.2022 to 19.8.2022, the power-mad army split into two platoons and burned almost all the villages that we mentioned. Golds & precious items were looted, leaving nothing left. The people who were affected by the fire pitched tents in the forest and they have to depend on their siblings and live in their houses. The population of Chiu Zauk village is more than 300 people. More than 70 people live in Nyaung In village. More than 60 people were affected by the fire in Gwe Gong village and Sachin village. Due to these conditions, the families' health and livelihood are very difficult.”
