Stories from the Cyclone Zone: Burma in mourning

OM International

“Look! Look! This is terrible! The colour of the paddy fields is the same colour as the sea! Everything is brown!”

I turned round and saw a Burmese gentleman pointing out of the aircraft window.

“The Nargis Cyclone has really destroyed everything. The paddy fields now have sea salt water. Our Burmese rice is specially developed for planting in slightly salty water in the Delta area. Now it is too salty. Everywhere in the delta is the same colour as the sea marshland.”

I said, “Yes, it is really terrible.”

He continued: “This is a really bad time for Burma. Rice planting season is now, in June. We can’t plant. Our crops and rice for sale have all been destroyed and we can’t plant for next harvest as the water is salty.” He heaved a huge sigh.

“What are we going to do? I am okay myself, but my country and my people are really going to suffer.  So many have died; so many are dying. Fortunately it is rainy season, maybe the salty water will be less salty after the rain and we can plant again. Meanwhile we have to wait and suffer. So sad, very sad,” He drew in a painful breath.

“We can’t even bury the dead, there is water every where. All we can do is WAIT - wait for help, wait to plant, wait in tears, wait and mourn.”

Credit: OM International
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