The summer season in Myanmar begin from the end of February to the end of May. Summer is usually a hot and dry season. The temperature this summer ranges from 100F (37'C) in the morning to 113F (42'C) in the afternoon.
The mountainous region in the north such as Kachin State, Chin state and Shan state experience unusually hot weather unlike previous year. The dry weather is causing some of these areas to experience water shortages especially for supply of drinking water.
The hot and dry weather is causing some well to dry up. Even some big towns are affected by water shortages during this season. Some tributaries of the Irrawaddy is drying up and some have evaporated to a pool of muddy water. In some places, people have no choice but drink from this river even though the water is brown and muddy. The local uses a salty stone to cure these dirty water. Apparently, this water is safer to drink after the local place this salty stone in the water.
Wells in the Irrawaddy region is 60 to 300 ft deep. Water pumped from these well is still muddy in some areas.
Local people used these muddy well water for bath, cooking and even drinking. While we were with them, we used the bottled water that we carried along. Local people has no choice but to used the water supply that is available to them from the river and the well.
As my son Samuel was playing with the water pump, local kids including little Buddhist monk joined him to pump the water in the village.
Through our kind friend, iBota Foundation, we donated water filters to the people of these villages in Irrawaddy.
iBota Water filter is easy to use and it can be carried everywhere. It was our joy to be able to give them these water filters so they can use cleaner water supply.
Playing football just outside the housing village is a memorable moment for kids. Their lives have been changed with the completion new housing and new school.Most towns or villages in this region are surrounded by rivers.
There are few trees in Irrawaddy region as most land has been used to cultivate rice and other crops. However, there are coconut trees. surrounding villages. After each harvest, the farms dried up, the soil cracked and there is hardly any place to find a shade except some coconut trees near river banks. In the picture below, you can see in the background completed school building, a church building and houses donated by "i Love Myanmar".
Myanmar
