IRIN
MYANMAR: Cyclone elderly facing tough times
9 September 2008


YANGON, 9 September 2008 (IRIN) - Of the 2.4 million affected by Cyclone 
Nargis, about 700,000 people are over 55, many of whom lost everything 
in the storm, according to a survey by the NGO HelpAge International, 
with the most vulnerable highly dependent on family and wider 
communities.

Despite that, access to emergency relief is limited, with fewer than 10 
percent saying they had received any attention directed at older people 
as part of the relief effort.

"There aren't many people my age left in the village. So far I haven't 
received anything provided only for older people," Kyin Hla, who lost 
his wife in the storm.

"Older people are often the missing element in relief and rehabilitation 
efforts," confirmed Richard Blewitt, chief executive of HelpAge 
International [see: http://www.helpage.org/Home].

Although the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) [see: 
http://www.asean.org/21765.pdf], report compiled by the Myanmar 
government, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN - 
which details the needs of affected communities and households - makes 
special mention of their vulnerabilities, it fails to spell out the 
specific interventions needed.

"Ensuring that the particular challenges and needs of this group of 
persons are addressed is critical to ensuring a successful relief and 
recovery programme for all the affected population," Blewitt said.

Many older survivors rely on food provided by relief organisations or 
relatives and community leaders such as monks.

Most are reliant on the food supplies of international NGOs (50 percent) 
and local NGOs (9 percent), the HelpAge report states.

Close to 80 percent of respondents lost their homes in the category four 
storm, while more than half report having no productive assets to 
sustain themselves. Many lost their partners or primary caregivers.

Before Nargis, Kyin Hla owned 15 acres of land and was largely 
self-sufficient. But after losing everything in the storm - including 
his wife, two children and 18 buffaloes - Kyin Hla moved to a monastery 
in Yangon so he could look after his orphaned grandson.

The monastery provides food and shelter for them, while a senior monk 
takes care of his grandson's education.

"This allows us to economise our living costs," he said, one of several 
coping strategies many elderly survivors have now adopted.

Coping strategies

Thirty-five percent of those surveyed cited cutting down or skipping 
meals (32 percent), not eating at all on some days (11 percent), or 
going to relatives' homes (15 percent).

Though older people in Myanmar receive a considerable amount of respect 
in their communities, and live with their immediate family members, 7 
percent reported to be living alone now.

Those elderly who had no children at all faced a particularly tough 
time, leaving them with a strong sense of insecurity.

"The older people that don't have any son or daughter face 
difficulties," Aung Thu, a team leader with HelpAge confirmed.

Adding to their plight is the devastating impact the cyclone has had on 
their overall health.

Before Nargis, 30 percent of respondents did not suffer from any 
significant illness, against 2 percent after the storm, the survey 
stated.

Aung Thu recalled meeting three women aged from 72 to 86 years on one of 
his mobile healthcare trips to the affected area.

"The youngest of the three women had severe lung problems, but was 
caring for her two older sisters," he said.

He later learned that the woman had passed away after failing to receive 
the treatment she needed.

"The two old ladies are now living with a niece in the village. I wonder 
how long the other two will survive," he asked.


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