Tee Chaung

Location

Livelihood

Food & Water

School

Church

Rebuilding Progress

i Love Myanmar Donated houses behind poster

Village: Tee Chaung

Tract: Daunt Gyi

Township: Bogale

Total population: 707

Households:142

Village Head: U Soe

School Level: Primary

Number of Students: 171

Number of Teachers: 2

Number of Churches: 0

Church Attendance: N/A

Village Christian population: 1%

Latitude: 15°59.934' N Longitude: 95°26.364' E

Helipad: No

Storm Surge: 10 ft

Houses destroyed: ~ 95%

Lives Lost: 33

Farmers: 33% Fisherman: 30% Others: 37%

Water: Three freshwater lakes have been cleaned by AZG and are drinkable

Crops: Farmers expect 25-35% harvest

i Love Myanmar involvement: 138 houses have been donated as well as a 47ft motorized boat

Location

Tee Chaung although accessible by boat is rather distant from the main river estuaries. It is located at a junction where several small rivers meet.

Cyclone Nargis

Similar to other villages in the area, the storm surge was about 10 ft. During the night as the storm intensified, villagers first sought shelter in their houses. As the full force of Cyclone Nargis was unleashed upon the village, almost all houses were destroyed and villagers were forced to swim to higher ground. Some drowned as they were not able to reach higher ground, others died of over exposure to wind and rain. A total of 33 lives were lost in this village.

After the cyclone, the villagers all gathered in the houses of four villagers, Hla Thwe, U Soe, U Maw Maung Hte and U Tin Win where they shared food, cooked and lived for several weeks.

Livelihood

Most villagers are still staying in temporary shelters built out of wood, palm leaves and canvas. Farmers planted 600 of their 857 acres, however a portion of the seeds did not sprout and as the crops were planted late, farmers only expect a harvest of 25 to 35% of what they normally get. Villagers are concerned that it may not be enough to last till their next harvest in November 2009. Moreover, a large number of buffaloes (176) drowned during the cyclone. However it appears that Tee Chaung has been relatively quick to recover compared to other villages as they have been able to borrow money to purchase tillers and other much needed goods. Most villages ILM have visited do not have access to credit. Tee Chaung has close to 20 tillers.

Children in front of a temporary shelter made from canvas

Another home built from palm leaves and weaved bamboo

There 30 families that fish for a living, amongst them they have 20 boats. Others in the village work as carpenters, run village stores or catch crabs and shrimps for a living.

Food & Water

Initially I Love Myanmar provided Tee Chaung with rice while WFP provided them with oil. Later WFP also provided the village with rice.

Tee Chaung has 3 freshwater storage lakes which have been cleaned by NGO AZG( MSF Holland). These lakes are sufficient in supplying drinking water.

School

The village primary school taught by 2 teachers has a total of 171 students. Their school was destroyed during the cyclone and students now attend school in 2 separate buildings. One made out of bamboo and canvas donated by UNICEF another built out of palm leaves and wood by villagers.

After primary school, students have to attend middle school in Set San. Approximately 30 students attend middle school in Set San while another 20 odd students do not attend middle school because they cannot afford $ 5,000 Kyats ($ 5 USD) a month for tuition and board.

I Love Myanmar is in the process of obtaining designs for rebuilding their primary school, there are also plans to implement Emmanuel Scholarship program to allow all Tee Chaung students to attend middle school.


	ILM staff Zaw Zaw in front of school

Church

Tee Chaung is a Buddhist village, hence there are no churches in the village. One Buddhist monastery serves the village. There is only 1 Christian family living in this village

Rebuilding Progress

As of ILM’s last visit to Tee Chaung on Nov 8, 2008, 48 of the 138 donated houses have been completed.

Yee Mon Aung Construction Company is responsible for building the 138 houses donated by ILM. As of ILM’s last visit on Nov 8, 08, 48 houses have been completed.

However the rebuilding progress has slowed due to lack of carpenters. ILM also believes that the quality of houses built can be improved. ILM will take action to ensure hones are completed in a timely and satisfactory manner.

A 47 ft motorized boat was also donated by ILM to help in transporting construction material.


	ILM donate boat to help transport construction material

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