Padauk Gone

Location

Cyclone Nagis

Livelihood

Above: Photo showing main street in village with houses on both sides

Village: Padauk Gone

Track: Sar Chet

Township: Laputta

Total population: 525

Households:112

Village Head: Pyipsone

Farmers: 34%

Fisherman: 20%

Others: 58%

School Level: Primary

Number of Students: 58

Number of Teachers: 3

Number of Churches: 2

Church Attendance: +200 each Village Christian population: 100%

Latitude: 15°56.647' N Longitude: 94°52.304' E

Helipad: No

Storm Surge: 9 ft

Houses destroyed: 95%

Lives Lost: 143

Water: All wells polluted, new wells are salty as well

Crops: 25% planted. Expect a 1/3 chance of harvest. Most seed planted did not sprout due to salty soil

i Love Myanmar involvement: 46 houses donated. As of Oct 15, 2008 rebuilding process had not begun

Location

Padauk Gone is accessible by boat from Sar Chet and is connected to rivers on both sides, one which is quite sizable. The village is widely spread out and is actually composed of two small villages.

Cyclone Nargis

Storm surge levels were close to 10 feet, although less than other villages, it was enough to cause substantial damage. Most buildings were destroyed, including the church and school. A large number of people were seeking shelter in the church at the time, resulting in 77 fatalities as the church collapsed. A total of 143 lives were lost to Cyclone Nargis. Bodies were buried in mass graves of approximately 25 bodies each.

Livelihood

There appears to be a strong NGO presence in the village. UNICEF, ADRA, Merlin and other groups are in the village. Some villagers are living in tents donated by NGOs while most are livening in simple houses with wooden frames topped by palm leaves and canvas as roofing. Merlin NGO has also built their main road through the village.

Farmers have received seeds from the government and UNDP to replant as well as fertilizer enough for 30% of crops. In addition, United Nations Development Program also donated 3 tractors, however farmers mentioned that buffaloes are more effective as there are hidden logs in the fields and buffaloes only need to be fed grass while diesel for tractors are expensive. As the receding storm surge left salt deposits in the soil, many seeds have not been able to sprout. Their December harvest is highly dependent upon rain and farmers only expect a 1/3 chance of a harvest. Over 100 buffaloes were also swept away during the cyclone.

As for the fisherman, they have few boats and nets and need an assortment of nets costing between $ 100-300 USD each.

Food & Water

Villagers are currently drinking rain water, but supply may run dry as the rainy season passes. Their wells remains salty despite multiple attempts by NGO Merlin to clean water supply. Prior to Nargis, their well was able to supply drinking water for 4 villages but is now undrinkable. In addition, efforts to dig new wells have been rendered useless as fresh wells turn salty within 24 hours.

The village has been supplied with food by ADRA and a 7th Day Adventist group. Supply should be sufficient.

Polluted and salty well

School

The primary school was completely destroyed. Taught by 3 teachers, school now continues in a temporary shelter made from wood and canvas. UNICEF has donated school bags and desks to the village.

School building destroyed in Nargis

School building made from wood and canvas

Church

Both churches in the village were completely destroyed. As mentioned earlier, 77 people die in one as it collapsed. Pastor Sawseda lost his wife and 3 children himself. One of the churches has obtained funding to rebuild and is in the process of doing so, while the other church has not been able to rebuild its building and is in the process of rebuilding a temporary shelter.

Left: Charles standing on foundation where church collapsed

Right: Temporary church being rebuilt out of salvaged wood and bamboo

During our visit, we also noted that the two churches, although of the same denomination and convention, did not seem to be united as one pastor did not want to visit the other church while the other pastor wanted houses only to be built inside the compound of their church. I Love Myanmar will proceed with caution as it is not our desire to sow discord and disunity in the Church and any society.

Rebuilding Progress

I Love Myanmar will be building 46 houses in Padauk Gone. Villagers have determined where houses will be built but construction has not started yet at the time of visit ( Oct 10,08). Mya Nan Dar Construction Company, which is delivering good quality houses in a timely manner in Sar Chet will be building houses in this village.

Left: The 46 houses built by

i Love Myanmar will line

this new road "Emmanuel"

i Love Myanmar Team

The team with famous Christian Myanmar singer Htoo Ee Lynn first stopped at a school, sang and taught songs to the children, then after lunch they approached another church and sang and performed to the congregation of the church.

Left: I Love Myanmar team teaching songs in school

Right: Audience in church

Conclusion & Prayer

The primary problem in this village is drinking water. Despite repeated attempts by other NGOs, a renewable drinkable water source has not been obtained. Although a water purification system is at the village, it is not usable against water containing salt. Their school would highly benefit from a building, however i Love Myanmar is uncertain about another church in this village.

Although the provisions of buffaloes, boats and nets would help the livelihood of this village, we feel that due to this village’s accessibility and strong presence of NGOs, i love Myanmar should concentrate its resources on villages that are harder to reach and are receiving less assistance.

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