Morgan Stanley
India | Sunday, 20 July 2008
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Journey from horror to misery in Myanmar: Cyclone survivors

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Posted 08 May 2008 @ 07:27 am GMT

Residents on a boat make their way to flee for safer place in the Pyarmalot river as Cyclone Nargis hit their town, in Labutta town, 168 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of Yangon on Friday May 2, 2008
Residents on a boat make their way to flee for safer place in the Pyarmalot river as Cyclone Nargis hit their town, in Labutta town, 168 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of Yangon on Friday May 2, 2008. International aid began trickling into military...

"Aid still hasn't arrived," said 38-year-old Khin Khin Mya. "My mother, children and husband got separated ... Every day I wait for the rescue boats, hoping to see them at the jetty."

The town hospital was devoid of first aid supplies, medicine or other medical equipment, and no doctors were in sight. Desperate relatives tended to the injured with rusty sewing needles and thread.

A man lay moaning in a makeshift bed, his leg crushed and foot torn off when he got caught between two boats. "There is no help and there is nothing we can do except waiting here for him to die," said his friend.

Another man with a deep gash in his head had leaves and twigs embedded in his skull.

Back at the jetty, people peered at the horizon, waiting for the next rescue boat to arrive.

"I want to try to help as many people as I can, but there isn't enough fuel to carry survivors," said one boat operator, Maung Hyay, whose vessel lay idle.

Nearby, a man distributed soup to all comers. About 30 people gathered around. "Everyone please come and eat," he shouted. "Come, come, you need energy."

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