DIMAPUR, AUGUST 9 (MExN): The Council of Naga Affairs Eastern Nagaland, Myanmar has written to the Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, seeking help for the outbreak victims in the Naga areas of Myanmar.
While acknowledging the Nagaland CM for reaching out to the outbreak victims in eastern sector “as confirmed to us by Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA,” the Council of Naga Affairs said that the Government of Myanmar “was unable to respond quickly even if they were informed since the early stage.”
Informing that the Government of Myanmar had on August 6 claimed the outbreak was “under control,” it informed that meanwhile, the death toll has hit 41 as of August 8.
It further cautioned that reports of 9 villages under infection could be more “as we are informed that the villages under Yinchung Tract under Lahe Tsp are also already infected with this killer disease - measles.” It expressed concern that the death toll, unfortunately, is expected to exceed the figure issued by the Government of Myanmar. “As per the government’s figure, more than 200 people are under infection, but this figure might not reflect the ground reality either.
The latest report is that at least 13 villages under Lahe, Namyun townships and Donhi sub-township are already affected and the confirmed information of the infected ones from Namyun Tsp alone shows 183 whose blood samples are still awaited,” the Council of Naga Affairs stated.
It further lamented that donations that are being collected in Myanmar from well-wishers “are also short of the needed amount because the expenditure soars up due to transportation problem in the affected areas.”
It informed that the villagers in Lahe and Namyun Tsps have been seriously affected not only in terms of sickness but also their livelihood as they could not go into the fields for already months. “And more seriously, the quarantine period will go on till a certain amount of time - until the outbreak comes under total control, meaning that their sustainable health and food security are also under a great threat as a consequence. This critical situation highlights that the villagers are in need of not only medicines but also good food, nutritions, hygienic materials and basic needs,” it added.
Therefore, it sought help from the Nagaland CM. “Your act of kindness will always be remembered in our hearts and history,” it appealed.
