Cyclone survivors receive rice and cooking oil from Tearfund partner staff. Picture: Htein Win
Recovery work with the survivors of the Myanmar cyclone could last up to five years.
That is the assessment of a Tearfund relief worker who has just returned from the stricken country.
Davidson Solanki visited Tearfund’s church-linked partners involved in relief operations in the badly affected Yangon and Irrawaddy Delta areas.
`In terms of rebuilding livelihoods, homes and providing proper shelters, it will take maybe three to five years,’ said Davidson.
`People in relief camps are starting to think about rebuilding; they want to move on, they want to reconstruct their lives and their families which is a good sign and we need to support that.’
With more than 130,000 people dead or missing and 2.4 million affected, Tearfund’s partners are already drawing up long term plans to help the recovery effort.
One partner, which has links to 4,500 churches, is focusing on restoring education and health services, caring for orphaned children as well as rebuilding livelihoods and homes.
It's also planning to learn about preparing for future cyclones and disasters, for example by developing rapid response teams.
However immediate needs remain high for many people.
The Myanmar authorities are saying the immediate relief operation after the cyclone is over but Tearfund’s partners are seeing no reduction in their workload, says Davidson.
A mother and child with food supplies provided by a Tearfund partner. Picture: Htein Win
`They are pretty exhausted but are still working hard to save lives, to reach out to those who are wounded and those in need. They are working around the clock.’
Rice, beans, cooking oil, water, plastic sheets for shelter, medicines, and fuel are among the immediate supplies they are distributing.
There are indications that the authorities are softening their stance on outside aid being allowed into Myanmar.
`There are definite signs of improvement but the pace is very slow,’ said Davidson. `It really needs to be geared up because it’s a race against time.’