Submitted by thmon
Writer: Thet Mon Htun
The measles outbreak in the Naga Self-Administered Zone is still not under control because of a lack of help from the regional and central government after one and half months, claim activists.
With reports starting as early as June, 42 children have died with the unofficial death toll above 60.
“What is surprising is that the regional government could not form an emergency response committee or mechanism until today due to lack of resources. This reflects that the government is not serious and incapable of handling what is happening to the Naga. This is very unfortunate and an unexpected attitude from the government,” Ke Jung, spokesperson of the Council of Naga Affairs said on the Emergency Response for Measles Outbreak in the Naga Area Facebook page.
Domestic and foreign medicines and materials donated are stranded at Mandalay airport due to the difficult flight schedules to the Naga area. Narrow roads link the region. “Only air transport is fast enough for an effective response,” Shu Maung, joint secretary of the NCA said.
Thein Zaw, assistant director of leading committee of Naga Self-Administered Zone, said: “One more child died today. Now diarrhoea is complicating the disease. Transport is very difficult with high charges for a motorbike. No NGOs are coming to us. The motorbike fee is Ks100,000 for each way from Htankawlarma village to Lahe. From Lahe to Sinthay village, it is Ks500,000 for a car and Ks200,000 for a motorbike.”
Ke Jung said: “We received about Ks10 million and over 1.6 tonnes of food and medicines. But it is not enough for the 15 villages that are hit by the disease. We need more donations, food and medicines.”
Around 700kg in donations are still stuck at Mandalay airport.
The Naga Emergency Response Team met Vice President Henry Van Thio on August 14 in Yangon and requested better disaster response, including more efficient transport of donated aid, sending more medics, better communications and allowing health workers from Nagaland in India to cross the border.
“I’m very sorry that our brothers and sisters are suffering from the disease in the faraway area. The lower part of the country is hit by the flooding but the Naga area faces death from the disease. However, I’m really sorry to see that we get an unequal response from the government. If it wants reconciliation it should not ignore the plight of the Naga,” said Loung Pang, a Naga student in Yangon.
For donations:
Phone: (+95) 9 25 36 17 417
or (+95) 9 455 166 056
Email: infoshanah@gmail.com
For emergency bank transfers:
Name: Ke Jung
Account Number: 098-301-09801392401
SWIFT: KBZBMMMY
Bank: KBZ Bank
NRC No.: 5/NaYaNa (N) 008154
For medicines, supplies and all forms of donations:
SHANAH Office
No.26, 2nd Floor, Than Lan, Kyaung Gone (1) Street, Hlaing Township, Yangon
www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/5663
