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MYANMAR: Bureaucratic hurdles plague government cyclone relief

01 Sep 2008 12:18:41 GMT
Source: IRIN

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KYON CHIN, 1 September 2008 (IRIN) - Nu, a 50-year-old woman from a fishing family, should finally get the boat engine she needs after three arduous visits to the township authorities in Daydaye.

"We were informed by the township authorities who registered the names of all fishing families in our area," she said in Kyon Chin, a village of 1,400 inhabitants about 68km southwest of Yangon, the former Burmese capital.

But the process of getting that motor - vital to restarting her family's livelihood in the wake of Cyclone Nargis - has been complicated.

First, she had to get a letter from the village head attesting that she came from a fishing family which had suffered losses as a result of the storm. Then she needed to get a recent photo of the family head, fill in a complicated application form, and write a letter stating her need for assistance - none of which was free.

"It cost us a lot," Nu said. "We had to pay for everything - from the application form to travelling costs," she said, shaking her head. "Even treating office staff at a teashop cost about 15,000 kyats (around US$12) each time," she complained.

Altogether she spent close to $40 to receive the government assistance, a significant sum in impoverished Myanmar - and potentially enough to feed a family of five for one month in the village, say many.

Stories of bureaucratic hurdles in the aftermath of the disaster, which left nearly 140,000 people dead or missing when it struck on 2 and 3 May, are far from unusual.

"I have no money to travel to town. I can't even afford to apply for the assistance," said Khin Maung Yi, another local fisherman.

Landless, the 55-year-old fisherman has erected a temporary hut on his brother's land, placing his broken boat prominently outside in the hope of help from the local authorities. While he waits, he and his family remain dependent on international food assistance.

According to the recent Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) [see: http://www.asean.org/21765.pdf] report by the Myanmar government, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [see: http://www.aseansec.org/] and the UN, the loss of thousands of small multi-purpose boats will have a serious impact on livelihoods - a prediction now coming true.

Confusion over aid

The government has placed dozens of boats along the Daydaye jetty - part of an earlier plan to build and distribute some 9,000 boats to needy fishermen who will pay for them in instalments - but even that effort is proving less than transparent.

To date, how many boats have been delivered remains unclear, with many fishermen complaining that they do not even know how the instalments will be paid back.

"It's not for us," said Tin Maung, brushing aside the prospects of receiving such a boat. "Only those who are close to the village officials or who could afford to buy them, get them," he said.

Although farmers and fishermen in Kyon Chin have received some assistance (including rice seeds, farm animals, power tillers and fishing resources) not everyone was getting the aid, he said.

Fourteen water buffalos, nine power tillers and five sets of fishing materials are not sufficient for the over 300 needy households in the village - something that has led to quarrels between residents.

"Nobody has told us what assistance we will actually be getting. The village authorities should explain to us exactly how to apply," Tin Maung said.

Yet according to one elderly man who did not wish to be identified and whose relative works with the village authorities, residents were told exactly who was getting what.

"Villagers were informed at a meeting that only those in need of rehabilitation help would be getting assistance. Some people simply did not listen carefully," he said.

Such complaints are common across the cyclone-affected area, prompting many villagers to travel to the nearest towns - including Dadaye, Labutta or Yangon - to try and find out what assistance they might be entitled to, or find private donors who might be able to help.

"I don't have a problem if someone who receives help actually needs it. But I don't think it's fair if a rich man is taking assistance over a poor man," said Tin Maung, hinting of favouritism in the government relief process.

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