Many people took shelter at this monastery in Kyaung Gone village when the cyclone hit. "[When we got there] the cyclone had destroyed the monastery roof. Rain was pouring in so we held our hands up to make a roof, because we had nothing else, to try and protect children from the wind and the rain," explains Mahn Din Gar.
Photo: Jane Beesley
Many fishermen's boats and means of making a living were destroyed by Cyclone Nargis. Oxfam is providing fishing nets and boats to help people rebuild their livelihoods.
Photo: Jane Beesley
Khin Ohn Yi's family received materials from Oxfam to build a new home. "When we heard we were getting this shelter I can't describe the happiness I felt. Before when we were staying in the tarpaulin shelter we felt hot, we were unhappy, and we couldn't earn a living. When we go this house we could start to work again. Now we own our own house and that makes me very happy."
Photo: Jane Beesley
Daw San Myint has received support from Oxfam to set up a business selling snacks around her village. "If I'd not got this grant I would have had to go to others and taken a loan with interest. At the moment my snack business pays for food for my son and I to eat."
Photo: Jane Beesley
Mahn Htay Aung is head of the emergency committee in Kyang Gone village. "After Cyclone Nargis everything was destroyed. But because of your help, especially the support to farming, we've been able to restart our lives."
Photo: Jane Beesley
Many latrines were destroyed when Cyclone Nargis hit. Oxfam is training communities to construct new, more stable, latrines made out of wood. "I'm happy that we're getting one made of wood because it will be fly proof and help prevent diarrhoea. The new latrine will also be easier for me, at my age, to use because it will be stronger and I'll feel safer," explains U Sein Khaing (aged 70).
Photo: Jane Beesley
Pyone Pyone and her family also lost their home to the cyclone and received a shelter kit from Oxfam. "When I found my name on the list to get a house I was very happy. Now I feel more secure and when it rains I feel this will protect us from the rain. It's bigger than my last house so there's more space."
Photo: Jane Beesley
After the cyclone many water sources were polluted, damaged, or destroyed. Oxfam is working with communities to provide clean safe water by rehabilitating and constructing wells, ponds and other water sources.
Photo: Jane Beesley
Daw Hla Chit is a coconut seller who has received business support from Oxfam. "After the cyclone we were left with nothing. I used to sell coconuts before, but they belonged to someone else so most of the money went to the owner. Now, with business support, I can buy the coconuts directly. I hope it will mean we can afford more food and send our grandchildren to school."
Photo: Jane Beesley
Oxfam's emergency response has included providing piglets to help people like Hla Aye restart their livelihoods. "We received these piglets because we didn't have anything. When we heard we were going to get them we were very happy. When they get bigger we can earn some money from them."
Photo: Jane Beesley
We have also been distributing seedlings and providing support to farmers. Mahn Htay Aung explains, "With what the farmers received they were able to get back some of their capacity and were able to harvest rice which we didn't think would have been able to happen after Nargis. They were even able to give some rice to the rice bank so the community could benefit."
Photo: Jane Beesley
Khin Ohn Myint and her family received shelter materials from Oxfam to build a new home. "During the cyclone our house was destroyed. [To protect ourselves] my husband and I had to dig a hole in the sand, and get in that hole under what remained of the house. When the wind stopped we made a shelter from what we found. When we heard we were getting this house we were very happy."
Photo: Jane Beesley
