NEWS 20 MAY 2008

Nargis Action Group: The Go-Between

On Tuesday 20^th May the Nargis Action Group (NAG), sister organization of Myanmar Egress, hosted a discussion regarding the Pyapon township. A group of local and international NGOs, US and British embassy representatives and local company owners congregated to discuss plans for administering aid in this suffering area.

Three local company owners – U Htay Myint (Yuzana), U Hia Mg Shwe (Phya Phyo Kyaw) and U Win Aung (Dagon) – provide construction and reconstruction services, all the more critical in the context of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis. They are in the invaluable position of being approved by the Myanmar government; they offer unrivalled official access to the disaster-hit regions. However, although they have the paperwork, and the desire to work together to help their people, they do not have the necessary connections to organise resources rapidly.

This is where Nargis Action Group (NAG) comes into play.

NAG has important and significant connections in the Myanmar business world. By virtue of its well-associated Board of Directors and working staff, Myanmar Egress, and with it NAG, participates in a wide network of local and foreign business operations.

With this in mind, NAG can act as a critical go-between. It will be able to connect Myanmar-based company owners with local and international experts and NGOs. The local company owners boast government-approved access to suffering areas, while the NGOs and experts provide training, experienced advice and human resources. NAG, through its extensive, ever-expanding network of contacts, may facilitate the decisive merging of these two groups.

Stakeholders Meeting for the Relief Project in Pyapon, 20th May 2008

JS Furnivall Hall, Thamada Hotel

“We must all work together”

This meeting highlighted the importance of acting now, and working in unison.

At the start of the meeting, hosted by Myanmar Egress, participants introduced themselves and gave an overview of their current projects in the Pyapon township. We discussed how the business sector can work with the aid community to administer supplies effectively.

The aid relief phase continues but there are also pressing needs for reconstruction and resettlement incentives. Of the 240 schools in the Pyapon township area, 65% have totally collapsed, while the rest are in dire need of repair. New hospitals and schools are a paramount necessity, but local construction company owners, who attended the meeting, recognize that there are more cites that require such attention. Road building, roof repair and community hall reconstruction must also be arranged.

To facilitate such action, we need more funding. We must organise and appeal for more donations, while performing our ongoing relief, resettlement and rehabilitation activities.

In order to carry out our common aims – Relief, Resettlement and Rehabilitation – all groups will need to work together towards the same ends. We plan to create a shared database development centre, assessing coordination between groups, while establishing a working relationship with the authorities. The latter can be facilitated by association with government-approved personnel. We would plan to share information and develop synergy; each group would strive to perform its own needs assessments, share responsibilities and frequently coordinate with various stakeholders. We have already had good co-operation from the Minister, who is concerned for the Pyapon area.

A further prerogative is to begin a relocation programme for people who cannot return to their villages as a result of Cyclone Nargis. Working with officially-approved contacts we can convince the authorities to create space for the newly homeless. The people in Pyapon want to resettle immediately, as they must start farming again while the rice-growing conditions are suitable. The monsoon season is encroaching, so action must be swift and effective. These people require land and equipment to start farming without delay.

A second meeting will take place to finalise or amend the aforementioned plans.