IRIN
MYANMAR: Thousands unable to return home
9 July 2008


LABUTTA, 9 July 2008 (IRIN) - Thousands of cyclone survivors living in 
displaced persons camps in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Delta worry about the 
prospects of returning to their villages, many of which were devastated 
by the category four storm.

There are 9,000 internally displaced (IDPs) in three camps in Myanmar's 
southern Labutta township, a significant drop over earlier numbers, when 
up to 40,000 people were staying in 45 camps of varying sizes.

"We've been told we can stay one more month. After that we don't know 
what we will do," said Phu Gyi, a 33-year-old fisherman from Shwe Kyun 
Tha village, about three hours by boat from Labutta. He lives in a tent 
at the government-run "3 mile" IDP camp - a reference to its distance 
from the town centre.

The government is reportedly offering incentives to encourage residents 
to return, including covering transport costs, as well as a number of 
food and non-food related items. In addition, the New Light of Myanmar 
newspaper announced the construction of some 4,000 homes in the area.

However, returning now could prove difficult.

Phu Gyi's village was devastated by Cyclone Nargis, which left more than 
138,000 dead or missing on 2 and 3 May, and affected some 2.4 million.

The UN now estimates that just under half this number will need 
assistance for the next six months.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), some 724,000 people in the 
delta alone will require food aid for at least six months.

In Labutta, one of the worst-hit areas, just over half the 374,000 
inhabitants were severely affected by the cyclone and half its 500 
villages destroyed.

Bleak prospects

In Shwe Kyun Tha, 800 of the village's 1,000 inhabitants perished, Phu 
Gyi said. He worries about looking after his five children in the months 
ahead. "How am I supposed to feed my family?" he asked - a question 
echoed around the camp.

"I have five children. Is it reasonable to expect that I will be able to 
care for them?" asked one woman.

"My village was washed away completely. I have nothing," chimed in 
another.

Such stories of loss are common among camp residents. Two months on, 
most do nothing more than while away the hours in their tents in a bid 
to escape the stifling heat or the torrential rains that accompany it.

While conditions in the camps are far from ideal, residents at least 
have access to regular food as well as water and sanitation facilities.

WFP distributes a two-week ration of rice, beans, salt and oil to camp 
residents.

Sitting under the blue tent he shares with three other families at the 
camp, Phu Gyi knows things could be worse - particularly if he returns 
prematurely.

Having lost his home, his boat and his fishing nets, his prospects for 
restarting his life at this early stage look all but impossible.

"If we can, we will try to restart our lives. Perhaps I can return to 
fishing, but I lost everything in the storm. I will need help," he said.


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