Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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SILVER SPRING, Md. - It was a quiet evening in the eastern mountainous Shan State of Myanmar. Families, busy sharing with one another and finishing supper, had no reason to expect that in a matter of minutes, their evening - and life, would drastically change.
"Earthquake! Earthquake!" One voice screamed. The shrilling cry was the only warning Sai Won Tip had before the forceful 6.8 magnitude earthquake toppled his small hut to the ground, taking with it his unfinished evening meal. "It was a hopeless night for me, I was hungry and fearful and shouted, "What is happening to this world?"" Sai Won shared.
The quake erupted at a shallow depth of six miles (10km) below the earth's surface, igniting eight powerful aftershocks, leaving the region on high alert for potential landslides. Hundreds of families' homes were demolished, leaving thousands of people instantly displaced. Shortly after, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) arrived to the scene and began an emergency response, distributing NFI kits (non-food items) to quake victims.
Fifty-eight year-old Daw Nan Kwel was lying in bed, chatting with her 12 year-old grandson Sai Kyaw when without notice the quake disturbed their peaceful night. "Suddenly, I heard a dreadful roaring voice. My poorly constructed home was wobbling, and while I was trying to evacuate, it collapsed on top of my family and me. I shouted loudly while everyone was asking for help. It was a nightmare. I realized that I was still alive, even though I had fallen and the roof collapsed over me. Fortunately, by miracle no one in my family was killed," said Daw Nan.
Crippled by fear from the force of the aftershocks, many people avoided sleeping indoors, creating a need for temporary shelters and day-to-day supplies. ADRA's NFI kits were supplied with bedding, kitchen, household, and health-related items, covering a wide span of needs that victims of disasters face. Included in the kits were mats, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, soap, toothbrushes, and nail cutters, amongst several additional related items.
"Two days after the earthquake, an ADRA team came to my village," Daw Nan described. "I lost my belongings, which were not worth much, but they met the basic needs for my family. I could not afford to replace such things, but through ADRA I was given the materials my family needs. It was an unforgettable event in my life, I am 58 years old and I have never experienced anything like this. I could not carry all of the things ADRA gave me even with both of my hands full. I had to ask young people in my village to help me carry everything back to my home."
Although he lost his belongings, Sai Won was grateful he did not lose his life. "Is it the end of the world," Sai Won asked himself, as he absorbed the startling scene of collapsed homes. "With my torch I looked around and was shocked to see my neighbor's homes had fallen to the ground just like mine. I lost my belongings, but not my life. I thank God. The next day, I met a group of people from ADRA collecting information about what people had lost and what was damaged. It was unbelievable that they replaced urgently needed supplies for those who were affected by this earthquake."
The quake occurred in the eastern parts of Shan State, near the borders of Thailand to the south and Laos to the east. Local officials say the quake claimed 74 lives and inflicted injuries to 125 others, however, unofficial reports state higher numbers. According to the Relief and Resettlement Department of Myanmar, hundreds of buildings have sustained significant damage including homes, schools, government buildings, and one local hospital.
Funded by the ADRA Network, people such as Sai Won and Daw Nan can easily move on with their lives, knowing their basic needs are met through ADRA's assistance. "Their support helped strengthen me physically and mentally and now I don't feel alone," expressed Sai Won, "Thank you ADRA for your support and care."
To contribute to ADRA's humanitarian efforts, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or give online at www.adra.org
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ADRA is a global non-governmental organization providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.
For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org
Author: Christina Zaiback, ADRA International