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Myanmar

Caritas helps Nargis villages battle drought

ucanews.com reporter, Yangon

ucanews.com reporter, Yangon

Updated: June 02, 2010 05:21 AM GMT
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Villagers in Nargis affected areas using earthenware jars provided by Karuna to store drinking water
Villagers in Nargis affected areas using earthenware jars provided by Karuna to store drinking water
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The Catholic Church’s social arm, Karuna Pathein has provided much-needed drinking water and storage facilities to Nargis-affected villages in the Irrawaddy Delta that are suffering from major shortages this summer. “The weather is extremely hot and it’s been a long summer this year, all their drinking water stocks have dried up,” said Father Henry Eikhlein, director of Karuna Pathein. The Church and several NGOs have built water tanks to store rainwater for drinking in the villages. Many villages in the area have had to rely on rainwater for drinking ever since Cyclone Nargis struck in May 2008. Karuna also distributed 250 large earthenware jars in May and will provide more to other villages in need. “We sent about 140 barrels of water by boat to each of three villages that were hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis.” said Snow Wai, a Karuna social worker. Many local volunteers also helped raise money to help with the water relief effort. “Before we got help from the Church, we were taking dirty water from ponds that had almost dried up. Other people were drinking river water treated with alum,” Zaw Min Tun 35, a farmer from Myittagone, Laputta Township, told UCA News. About 19 other villages in the area faced the same problems, according to Zaw Min. “We would really like to thank the Church for sending us this water,” said Zaw Gyi 28 from Maung-ma-ka village. Zaw Gyi said his village had suffered an acute shortage of water for about two weeks before the Church came to their rescue. Most villagers face shortages every year for at least 2 months, usually from the middle of March to the middle of May. Related reports Nargis survivors still struggle for their lives Nargis battered farmers struggle to find food MY09913.1604

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