Aid group: Quake victims in need of drinking water and food

According to a Thailand based aid organization returning from assisting earthquake victims in Talerh (Talay) and Mong Lane (Monglin) village tracts of Shan State East’s Tachilek township, where a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck on 24 March, people are in need of drinking water and construction materials.

“Currently, the main thing people need is drinking water because it is the rainy season. Therefore they can’t drink water from the valley or many of their wells,” said Montip Sirithaikhongchuen from Maesai based Mettatham Society which has donated construction materials and other significant needs to the quake victims on 3 July.


Water is being provided by the World Vision, but it is not enough, according to local sources.

Even though the earthquake occurred nearly four months ago, many people are still reported to be living in tents or tarpaulin shelters because building materials like cement, stones, bricks and zinc sheets are still needed, he said.

Chiangmai based Tai Literary and Culture Society, which received donations from people abroad, have delivered 1,730 sheets of zinc and water pipes to 78 households from 12 villages which cost about 242,200 Baht ($8,073). Earlier, it had also donated water pipes for 5 villages.

“Since then, villagers have been using the zinc sheets for sheltering both from the wind and rain,” he added. “They’ll be able to build proper homes only when the dry season returns. In the meantime, before the new rice is harvested, they will also need food assistance for at least 4 months.”

Since the latest assistance from Chiangmai and Maesai, many villagers say they have been able to leave homes and work in their fields and their children have been able to go to school.

According to the latest report from Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which collaborates with humanitarian groups, the number of damaged houses was 305, including a number of government buildings estimated at Kyat 3 billion (US$ 3.6 million) worth of damage. The death toll is in the hundreds.

Source:http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3836:aid-group-quake-victims-in-need-of-drinking-water-and-food&catid=93:general&Itemid=291

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