Tuesday, October 11, 2011

NLD stretched thin: relying on local offices to aid flood victims

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Tuesday, 11 October 2011 22:02 Kyaw Kha

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party says that financial constraints have prevented it from providing assistance to flood victims during this monsoon season.

Heavy rain has flooded many states and regions in the country including Mandalay, Magwe, Bago, Irrawaddy, Sagaing, Karen, Mon, Kayah, Chin and Rakhine states and regions. Many flood victims have sustained damage to their farmland and crops, and faced food shortages.

NLD spokesperson Ohn Kyaing says the opposition party's budget is tight, preventing aid to flood victims in Burma.

NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing said that the NLD could not provide much assistance to the victims because it was providing education assistance in suburban townships in Rangoon.

“There are many natural disaster areas in the country this year. We have had difficulty in finding sufficient financial resources and communication with these areas. But we plan to provide these disaster victims with as much as we can,” Ohn Kyaing told Mizzima.

Local social networks and organizations are providing assistance to the flood victims, but it has been inadequate in most areas.

Ohn Kyaing said the NLD has not changed its social assistance policy, and it has assigned local NLD offices to provide as much assistance as they can. “We also have a plan to visit the disaster-hit areas and provide assistance to the victims,” he said.

Myothit Township NLD branch Youth in-charge Aung Kyaw Kyaw said that there were cases of deaths and loss of homes in Kyauk Hta Yan, Htonebo, Myo Lulin and Tatkone villages in Myothit Township, Magwe Region, when the Soonchaung dam opened its floodgates after heavy rain.

“We could not provide enough assistance to these flood victims,” he told Mizzima. “And also the local authorities and parties have not provided assistance. These local authorities even harassed us by questioning us and prohibited us to give assistance.”

Also, a number of homes were flooded in Loikaw and Demoso townships, and local residents said that sufficient aid has not reached many residents.

The NLD provided relief assistance of food, clothing and medicine to homeless victims in South Dagon and Dagon Seikkan townships in March 2011 after gusts of wind damaged many homes. The party also provided financial assistance to residents in Chin State who were without sufficient food after a rodent infestation severely damaged crops. The party also provided assistance to victims in Rakhine State and Irrawaddy Region after Cyclone Giri hit Rakhine in 2010 and Cyclone Nargis hit Irrawaddy region.

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