By MIN LWIN
Five days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Rangoon, local residents are still fending for themselves with little or no help from local authorities.
As the floodwaters subside, people struggle to mend windows and rooftops and clear the streets. However, the most immediate danger may be from a lack of adequate food and clean water.
According to Vismita Gupta-Smith, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, help is needed to prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria as well as diarrhea and other diseases that can spread quickly amid a lack of clean water and sanitation.
A Rangoon-based publisher who spoke to The Irrawaddy by phone on Wednesday said the situation in Rangoon was worsening with thousands of homes destroyed and millions of people without water, electricity or telephone lines. He said some satellite townships, such as Dagonmyothit, Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyithar, were devastated by the cyclone.
A resident from Shwepyithar Township, on the northwestern outskirts of Rangoon, said the conditions were especially grave in Shwepyithar and Hlaing Tharyar townships. ‘The victims have no food or shelter. They’re sleeping in the streets at night,’ she said.
‘The government announced they would sell basic food supplies at Bayint Naung Trade Centre, but when we went there was no one there,’ she told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.
‘Most people are homeless, without water and without electricity. I believe that soon our people will be starving,’ said another resident from Shwepyithar Township. ‘Most people are drinking dirty water.’
Since Saturday, members of the Ward Peace and Development Councils in most of Rangoon’s townships have been driving through the streets announcing by loudspeaker that local people should clean the streets in front of their houses as the authorities would not take responsibility for cleaning the neighborhoods, said several residents.
A resident of Kyauktada Township in downtown Rangoon said the city development council was able to restart the public water supply on Tuesday; however, the supply was insufficient for most townships in the downtown area.
A resident of Sanchaung Township said, ‘The authorities have not helped the people whose houses were destroyed. Before the cyclone we saw police, security forces and military intelligence everywhere. Now, there’s no one to be seen.’
According to residents in Ahlone Township in western Rangoon, about 200 monks helped local people cut fallen trees and clear the streets.
Adding to the misery, a resident said that lootings and burglaries were occurring in some parts of Rangoon. Many shop owners were selling items from behind bars or only selling to regular customers.
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