I received an email from my mother from Yangon. Like others, my heart is broken. She is a single mom, a communication officer from PSI nonprofit organization. This is my gift to her for Mother's Day.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your mails and I am highly appreciated your concern towards me, my family and our people regard black Saturday havoc in 5 places.

Like others, no roof for front part of my house, trees in the garden fall down, hit to roof of my car, sitting in the wet for 5 hours, no telephone, no electricity but a bit relief as of getting water by using generator to run the pump and getting information through radio. One good thing is that all my family members including my mum (87 yrs) are fine.

Our office provided 100 FEC, half bag of rice, 3 bottles of cooking oil, one bottle of WG and a packet of iodinated salt to every staff on Tuesday 6 May. Office is operating 3 hours per day by using generator to operate computers. We collect clothes and sheets for poor staff. No email and no internet access up to now.

One of our product WG water guard is distributing by 20 liters containers to damaged places. My favorite MVU, Love Boat broken to pieces at Kyike Latt in Ayeyawaddy division, fortunately, we could get some equipment and all staff safely back.

This morning, some of our staff helped ACF to deliver rice bags in Bogalay and Lapputta. On their way, near Pyarpone, rice bags from one out of 4 trucks were requested to give to authorities and our staff could deal with Red Cross to help distributing these 140 rice bags. One of my assistant is together with them to take photos for assessment. My requests to TV stations & radio stations were regret to airing ads on WG usage, due to no media placement as for their so call 3 days old breaking news showing how PM is touring around those areas. Individual data indicates that, out of these commodities, 60% goes to military and 40% goes to people.

My personal feeling is; the main problem here is: Loosing TRUST, regime aggressively wants to play the vital role although they have lack of capacity and resource. They need the technical know how as we have lack of experience to this kind of events but they dare to refuse the assistance of seasoned technicians. They were no prevention plan and also no strategy for relief and replacement. I think they want all to be under their wings at ad hoc base.

They are watching all those merit base- self help social works with suspicious eyes, some activities (giving food shelter, cutting trees, taking care of patients etc….) involved by monks were intervened in some places by authorities. On the other hand they want to put their own agenda.

I could understand prioritization is natural for every organization but now, we have a big gap between majorities and their associated groups. I am surprised that military guys dare to politicize this black event at the expense of lives of their own people.

Today, I am start depressing as I am gradually realizing that my hands are tied to help those whom I love for my whole life. BUT I have to do what ever I can do. That's my life.

Thanks again.

regards,
Grace

Thank you for reading.
Nway