Myanmar Diary - The Relief Effort
| FRIDAY 16 MAY |
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Andrew Kirkwood, Save the Children's country director based in Myanmar, has been keeping a diary of the relief effort in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. |
There are so many dimensions to this crisis and it seems overwhelming at times. But, at least our mission is clear. Our absolute priority right now is to save children's lives. I think we've been clear and vocal about the dire situation children are in, and the need for urgent action to reach them.
Save the Children has now, less than two weeks after the cyclone, reached more than 120,000 people who have been forced out of their homes by the cyclone, including around 50,000 children - 90,000 people around Yangon and 30,000 in the Irrawaddy delta. And, we're reaching around 15,000 more people each day.
This gives me incredible hope and energy.
Today is my last instalment. I'll be relieved not to have this on my list of things to do every day.
I usually end up writing at the very end of the day, when I'm impatient to go home - even though the family is usually asleep already. But, I'm really glad I have written it.
I think it's been a good way of staying sane, since it's forced me to process what's happened during the day.
For most of the past two weeks I've had to read my blog every night to someone in our Bangkok office, because I've had no other way to send it.
At times it was really hard to read it - last Thursday it took me nearly five minutes to read the last paragraph and I was in tears when I finished.
It sometimes felt self-indulgent, and I wondered why I was taking time away from my family or from the efforts to save children. But, it's also been a way for me to stay in touch with friends and family, almost all of whom I've had no other contact.
I wonder how I'll feel when I read this in a few months.
| THURSDAY 15 MAY |
At breakfast my three-year-old son Callum suddenly decided that the cyclone had been "very naughty".
So, his logical question was "will the cyclone get a time out"? Excellent idea. I'll propose this at the next interagency co-ordination meeting. We had two more staff arrive today, and with them a newspaper, chocolates and, perhaps most importantly, an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull activity book (complete with Indy tattoos).
I'm tempted to give Callum the newspaper and keep the Indy activity book for myself - something to keep me sane in the office. It is absolute chaos here first thing in the morning. There are people, trucks and stuff everywhere.
But, but by about 0930 it calms down a bit and a semblance of order is established. I'm sure there are a lot of frayed nerves, but I've yet to see anyone get overtly angry. People are hugely motivated. This is now a massive relief operation and sustaining it, in terms of logistics, supervision, data collection, etc is extremely complicated. But systems are being established. We have a newly-established logistics team on the fifth floor that seems to be running like a watch, perhaps not a Swiss one, but adequate for the job.
Louis Michel, the European Union commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, is in town. We had a chance to meet him this afternoon, after his meeting with senior government officials. It seems that some progress was made on some issues, but like so often before, it's not precisely clear exactly what progress - and on what issues. This is a such a complicated place.
Quick update just in from the team in Pathein. The third boat load of supplies landed safely down at Pyin Kayaing and started distributions this afternoon.
And, the fourth boat left at 1820 tonight. I'm so proud of our team out there.
Read Andrew's entire diary on BBC News
