Natural calamities take a toll on lives and habitation; but
the scene becomes worst when it affects poor economic countries. Dealing with
unfortunate happenings in between of development process can be no worst; this
is the live of every child of a small state Rakhine in Myanmar.
Heavy rain as part of the monsoon season caused flooding in
many parts of Myanmar starting in the beginning of August 2012. Up to 6,000
people were left homeless after the Salween River in Karen State
The Moei River along the Thai border burst its banks
following days of heavy rain. In the Irrawaddy region, the Darka River
overflowed its bank, affecting 12,000 people. In northern Shan State flooding
started on 19 August, killing several and leaving hundreds homeless.
Children in Myanmar’s Rakhine State are still recovering
from the sectarian violence that erupted in 2012. Many live in camps, where
they are vulnerable to both water shortages and floods. Although government is
currently helping flood affected families to access clean water, but when we
visited in early June, they faced the opposite problem water shortages caused
by a prolonged period of drought.
25 year-old Nour Hartu arrived at this camp with her youngest daughter, after fleeing from the Muslim-majority Paukio Taw Town. Her husband migrated to Malaysia more than a decade ago and a few years later her parents-in-law followed in his steps. “They secretly took my eldest daughter to Malaysia,” Nour Hartu reveals. “Every hour of every day I miss my village. I had a big, strong house and a small business. All my memories of my oldest child are there.”
Less than an hour boat journey separates Sittwe, capital of
Rakhine State, from A Nauk Ywe village, where over 1,000 Muslim families were
relocated after the 2012 inter-communal violence in Rakhine State. Although the
camp for internally displaced people was set up a few steps away from the
waterfront, it faces a serious problem of water shortages every dry
season.
Rakhine is one of the poorest states in Myanmar and families
are less likely to access basic services than in other parts of the country. People are working with the State Government and partners to ensure that every
family in Rakhine has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, regardless
of their ethnicity, religion or legal status.
“Every child has a right to safe water, although the way government supports families might differ, depending on the situation they live in,
such as camps, communities or remote areas,” explains doctor Bishnu Pokhrel.
“In order to build a peaceful society, we need to ensure that all families can
access services and live with dignity and equal opportunity.”
These two families have found a solution to access drinking
water, but for both of them someone is still missing: “I don’t want another
husband or family, says Nour Hartu. “I only have one dream: to have my eldest
child with me again so the three of us can live together.”
Name: Anjali Jha
Course: MACJ
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