The work of reconstruction will require sustained longer-term support; the cyclone which hit Myanmar on May 3 and the earthquake which shook Sichuan province on May 12 left behind enormous devastation. Within days, another storm threatened Myanmar, and there have been aftershocks in Sichuan that have caused further destruction.
More than 134,000 are dead or missing after Cyclone Nargis pulverised the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar. The stench of death still lingers and there are reports that the bodies are not being removed fast enough. An estimated 2 million survivors of the storm are still in need of emergency aid. But international agencies and other groups have been able to reach only 270,000 so far. Despite crisis conditions, it has not been easy to get help into Myanmar because its government has reacted so slowly. Those who are allowed to work on the ground are the only links between affected areas and international charitable organisations. Logistical and other challenges are immense during the rainy season. Boats are the most urgent requirement, to transport badly needed supplies. A lack of clean water, food, electricity and fuel remains a concern. The current rice crop is ruined, leaving farmers desperate.
In Sichuan, the official death toll stands at more than 40,000, with some 247,000 people injured. The number of dead is set to rise, as there are many unaccounted for and perhaps thousands still buried under the rubble. Burying the dead quickly is essential to prevent disease. Most of those who died were in poor, remote mountainous areas north and west of Chengdu . Rain had slowed rescue operations. The earthquake left 4.8 million people homeless; right now, tents are urgently required. The national government has estimated that direct economic losses in Sichuan run into billions of dollars. The indirect and longer-term costs will push the figures much higher.
The Chinese government sent troops immediately to assist people in the devastated areas. Donations from the public, including those in Hong Kong and overseas, are pouring in. Our local media continues to provide daily reports and is helping to galvanise support.
Lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005, show us that the effect of large-scale natural disasters can be far-reaching. Storms and earthquakes have an impact on the natural environment and ecology. Essential infrastructure, once destroyed, can take years to rebuild. Children are left orphaned, many families lose loved ones, and large numbers of injuries and permanent disabilities must be dealt with. Small businesses have no means to restart, great numbers of people are left unemployed and millions no longer have homes. The emotional toll is extremely high. Lives and communities have to be rebuilt. Thus, beyond providing material support, there is also a need to provide psychological counselling to the victims who have experienced so much loss.
Hong Kong people are not only providing financial and other forms of support to Sichuan for immediate relief work; they have also not forgotten about the victims in Myanmar. It is easier for us to do something for those in Sichuan, as the national government has given the rescue effort its highest priority. It is harder to get help to Myanmar, where the ruling junta has provided little information and rejected offers of assistance. International aid will get through to some affected areas, although much more help remains on the sidelines.