Fund crunch hits reconstruction work

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) –Reconstruction work in the 34,000 acre wide Meinmahla Island in Cyclone Nargis devastated Bogale Township in the Irrawaddy Division has hit a wall following financial constraints.

Fund crunch has come in the way of replanting of mangrove forests, constructing storm shelters in nearby villages, and creating jobs.

Officials of the Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association (FREDA), which has been into rehabilitation work by replanting mangrove forests in the area said, though they have completed replanting several acres of natural forests in the region, they were unable to cover Meinmahla Island because of shortage of funds.

“We have completed replanting mangrove forests in 100 acres in Byonemwe Island. We have received an additional USD 12,000 in aid from my Japanese friends for another 100 acres of mangrove forests. But we cannot work on the remaining 34,000 acres in Meinmahla Island as we are short of funds,” U Ohn General Secretary of FREDA told Mizzima.

Reconstruction of Meinmahla Island is being done by several INGOs namely ATTACK and Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) along with Burmese NGO FREDA.

Most wild life on the Meinmahla Island and other nearby islands including Byonemwe and U Shin Gyi were severely affected by Cyclone Nargis, which lashed Burma’s coastal divisions of Irrawaddy and Rangoon in May last year, U Ohn said.

“We will concentrate on these islands and also work in surrounding areas. We must provide healthcare, education, security, go for reforestation and forest produce for the people living on these islands,” he added.

Earlier in May, they had appealed for Euro 750,000 for reconstruction and rehabilitation work in 25 villages including the Meinmahla Island but did not get it, he said.

The fallout has been that people in at least 25 villages of a total of 35, mainly dependent on the 34,000 acre wide Meinmahla Island, are in severe difficulties, he added.

FREDA is now being able to undertake limited reconstruction work on the islands of Htaw Pai, Kyun No Gyi and Byone Mwe, he added.

mizzima