Hong Dein : The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Mon State has asked for donations for residents of Arakan State suffering from Cyclone Giri.
On November 19th, the Mon SPDC ordered the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) throughout Mon State to start collecting money with a deadline of November 24th for collection.
In Mudon Township, in accordance with village size and number of households, villages were made to pay 100000 kyat, 80000 kyat and 60000 kyat respectively.
“In our village, the village headman asked for around 1000 kyat per household. The VPDC said that they will donate that money to the people suffering from the cyclone in Arakan State” explained a villager living in Mudon Township.
Moulmein Toonship, Kyaikmayaw Township, Chaung Zone Township, Mudon Township,Thanphyuzayart Township, and others in Mon State have been asked to donate to those suffering from the cyclone’s effects as well.
“If they [SPDC] give the money to the suffering people that’s good. We are happy to give these donations. But we worry that the authorities won’t give the money to the cyclone refugees. They have received a lot of money from the townships, maybe only half of that money will reach the refugees,” worried a Mudon resident.
According to the NASA website, Cyclone Giri hit Hunter’s Bay, Myanmar on Friday, October 22nd. This cyclone has ravaged parts of Arakan State and left many homeless.
Cyclone Giri has destroyed over 20,000 homes and affected around 260,000 people. Mya Pon Township and Kyaukphyu Township in Arakan state were almost destroyed by the cyclone.
The last cyclone that hit Burma was on May 2008 when Cyclone Nargis hit Burma in the Irrawaddy division and killed around 100,000.
