Almost a year after the 6.8 Richter scale tremor that shook eastern Shan State and northern Thailand on 24 March 2011, life has returned almost normal to some 20,000 affected people living in more than 90 villages in Tachilek township, opposite Thailand’s Maesai:
According to official bulletin, 63 people were killed and 106 more wounded, while 390 houses, 9 government buildings and 58 temples / schools were destroyed. However, independent figures had put down the actual death figures at more than 200. “There were more than 40 killed in Monglane and more than 30 killed in Jakuni alone,” an aid worker remembers. “The figure 200 is not an exaggerated one.”
The government had provided assistance to victims whose homes were totally destroyed: either building new houses for them or giving 1.5 million kyat ($1,875) each to rebuild by themselves. “The government built houses, about 50% of the total houses destroyed, are completed, “said the aid worker. “But most of the houses, rebuilt by the victims themselves are yet to complete.”
A large number of the victims are still in shock, according to a health worker. “One woman who had forced her son to return to the temple, where he had been ordained as a novice, only to see him killed by its collapse while on her way out, is still a state of trauma,” he said. “And there are many others like her.”
Among those individuals and organizations that came to the help is the Chiangmai-based Shan State Emergency Relief Network (SERN), formed in the wake of the quake by the Shan migrants. According to its annual report, it had donated blankets, mosquito nets, torchlight, ropes, water pipes, zinc sheets for roofing and medicines.
“We shall be asking for more donations at the upcoming Poy Hsang Lawngs (Novitiation ceremonies held each year in towns and villages in Thailand where Shans work and stay),” said a woman coordinator of SERN.
“Financially speaking, the amount we can help is like the Burmese saying ‘throwing sesame seeds into an elephant’s mouth,’” said another. “But we want to remind them they are not (and will not) be forgotten.”
SERN also hopes the new government, unlike the former regime, will not prevent people coming to help the victims, they added. Last year many donors turned back after their donations were accepted by Burmese officials, but the donors themselves were refused admission to visit the victims.
The following account is for donations:
|
Account name |
Mr Saengmueng Mangkorn, Mr Dechophol Walingta and Mrs Saengrawee Thiel |
|
Account No |
390 448 6283 |
|
Bank |
Bangkok Bank |
|
Branch |
Pratu Changpuek (Changpuek Gate) |
|
SWIFT Code |
BKKB THBK |
|
Coordinator’s No. |
089 636 6895 |
