A ray of hope - Inside Myanmar - Part 4

From our friend S- in Yangon

I had better say 'happy holidays' from Myanmar. Over the past few weeks two important holidays have occurred. The first, Wazo, arrived with an auspicious Burmese full moon, an occasion when many young men exchange faded t-shirts and loungyi's for an apprentice robe, entering the monastery to spend the next few months in religious study and meditation. (and for many- relief work) Across the country well-wishers donated robes, bowls and burgundy velvet sandals to the soon to be monks. Appreciative of the monasteries' continuous hurricane relief work, there was quite a turnout this Wazo. (It's been a long year for the monks.)

In a slight contrast, the second holiday, Martyr's Day, was non-celebrated. Anticipating a different sort of appreciation, larger cities and towns observed trucks brimming with riot patrol police and militia on patrol....festivities we limited for the most part.

There are a multitude of reasons to celebrate,however. It is not hard to be overwhelmed when looking at the vastness of the situation in the south of the country, especially as it seems affected population estimates increase daily-as the food supply continues to decline. But the many small efforts and successes also seem to be ever increasing. It was a pleasant surprise that the national newspaper reported last week that 'everyone may make donations freely'. Just as surprising, in Southern Bogalay, one of the worst affected areas, a prominent monk was able to obtain permission to bring in a group of foreign doctors- the first to have visited the area.

I learn of more and more local business's and individuals that have stepped in and set up small scale relief/reconstruction efforts in some of the most remote areas, some of who are now partnering with NGO's. At an even more local level local NGOs, of which there are few, are inundated with local volunteers, many who have overcome the most tragic of circumstances to assist others...I met one man who lost his wife and all four children to a storm surge- he’s now coordinating prevention efforts in his village. It is astonishing that the in face of such difficult circumstances hope is far from being lost.