Relief organizations responding to Cyclone Giri, which pounded western Myanmar on Friday, are finding homes and schools swept away and a need for emergency food and water in the saltwater soaked islands.
"The winds that hit these islands were over 200 km an hour and in many of these places there was a tidal surge of about 10 feet," said Andrew Kirkwood, Save the Children's country director in Myanmar. "Fishing boats have been sunk and paddy fields have been inundated with sea water. Houses have either been blown or washed away. Over 300 schools have been destroyed. It's left a huge wave of destruction behind."
The official death toll in the hardest hit townships of Kyaukpyu, Myebon and Pauktaw was 45, though 200,000 are in need of emergency food supplies, such as rice and beans, and probably will be for the next three to six months, he said.
By comparison, the country's last major cyclone, Nargis, which struck the Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008, killed an estimated 130,000 people.
Children take shelter in a monastery.
There were major differences between the two cyclones, including an early-warning system for Giri. Radio and television announcements -- and in some cases people walking around with megaphones -- alerted residents to the approaching storm.
In addition, while the intensity of both storms was similar, the delta where Cyclone Nargis hit is very flat, whereas Giri's path was over hilly terrain, giving people a chance to get to higher ground, Kirkwood said.
Another difference was in the response of Myanmar's government, which was criticized in 2008 for being too slow to let international aid workers into the country.
Kirkwood said the government was much better prepared this time, and his staff received good help from local authorities. They also didn't need to fly in international staff or relief shipments as they after Nargis, because the number of people affected is smaller and they can buy relief supplies locally, he said.
After Nargis, people in Myanmar have a much greater awareness of safer building techniques, Kirkwood continued. "There are very simple things that people can do to strengthen public buildings and homes to make them more cyclone-resistant, including improved bracing and foundations."
However, there's still very little one can do against a Category 4 cyclone and the accompanying tidal surge, he added. People will need to rebuild their livelihoods, including replacing fishing boats and farming tool.
Destroyed cyclone shelter. All photos courtesy of Save the Children
In one community the Save the Children team visited, a cyclone shelter built in 1962 had its roof ripped off by Giri. "We interviewed one man, 84 years old, who said this is the fifth major cyclone that he can remember but this is much stronger than anything that he has seen in his lifetime," Kirkwood said.
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Pauk Taw: Narinjara received the following list of the devastation and 11 deaths caused by Cyclone Giri from a local social relief group:

(Ngari Pike Chai Village)

Six people were killed and 230 out of 235 houses were completely destroyed by the cyclone in Ngari Pike village on Aungarar Chai Island in Pauktaw Township. The five remaining houses were partially damaged. 86 motorized fishing boats and 42 row boats that were anchored on-shore were washed away in the tidal surge along with 100 fishing nets. Two large ponds, the main sources of drinking and washing water were also destroyed by the flood of sea water.

(Prun Gree Village)

In Prun Gree Village on Aungarar Char Island, 93 out of 96 houses were destroyed, while 28 motor boats, 7 row boats, and 37 fishing nets were washed away to sea. 42 cows and 3 buffalo were killed, but there were no human casualties in the village.

(Ngari Chai Village)

Four people were killed and 130 out of 136 houses were damaged by the cyclone in Ngari Chai Village. 86 motorized fishing boats, 42 row boats, and 162 large-stretch fishing nets were washed away to sea. One source of drinking and washing water was also destroyed by the surge of sea water.

(Kha Maung Kway and Kaing Prun Villages)

All 155 houses were destroyed. 24 motorized fishing boats, 21 row boats, and 47 fishing nets were washed away to sea. The three main water sources were also destroyed by the flood of sea water in Kha Maung Kway and Kaing Prun Villages. No human casualties were reported, but 37 cows and 5 buffalo were killed.

(Thapru Chai Village)

All 65 houses were completely destroyed. 11 motorized fishing boats, 53 row boats, and 32 fishing nets were washed away to sea. One drinking and washing water source was also destroyed by the tidal surge in Thapru Chai Village.

(Ngamae Prun Village)

All 100 houses were completely destroyed. 11 motorized fishing boats, 18 row boats, and 37 fishing nets were washed away to sea. Two main drinking and washing water sources were destroyed by the tidal surge, and 6 cows were killed in Ngamae Prun Village.

(Manyun Kaing and Prunphru Chai Village)

All 110 houses were destroyed. 10 motorized fishing boats, 10 row boats, and 14 fishing nets were washed away to sea. One source of drinking and washing water was destroyed by the tidal surge in Manyun Kaing and Prun Phru Chai Villages.

(Kaum Chai Village)

All 61 houses were completely destroyed. 6 motorized fishing boats, 6 row boats, and 8 throw-fishing nets were washed away to sea. One source of drinking water was also destroyed by the sea water in Kaum Chai Village.

(Byaing Thaik Village Group)

One person was killed in Kyauk Maung Village under Byain Thaik Village Group.

Other damages left in the aftermath of Cyclone Giri are still being catalogued by the local social relief groups. Cyclone victims in Pauktaw Township are badly in need of emergency relief and medical care, as there is no organization, either government or non-governmental, that is providing substantial relief aid or medicine.

According to the latest reports received by Narinjara from aid groups working on the ground, the death toll has risen to 157 - with 138 from Mray Bon Township, 5 from Minbya Township according to official data, 11 from Pauktaw Township, and 3 from Kyaukpru Township.

http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2786