Myanmar: Children of the cyclone

International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Cyclone Nargis left hundreds of children orphaned and vulnerable. These are the stories of Htoo and Pont Pont.

Saw Kay Htoo

You could be forgiven for thinking that Saw Kay Htoo is just like any other 11-year-old boy. Walking home from school with a beaming smile and chatting with his classmates, there are no obvious signs of the tragedy he has lived through.

Home, however, is the child protection centre in Labutta, where seven orphans live together. They all lost their parents during the cyclone almost five months ago. Three of the smaller children are from the same family, but Saw Kay Htoo is alone.

Htoo lost his parents and ten siblings when Cyclone Nargis ravaged the Ayeyarwaddy Delta that fateful night in May. His family tried to escape the cyclone in their boat, but the boat was dashed to pieces by the waves. He saw his parents and siblings disappear one by one during the night. Htoo managed to survive by holding on to some wreckage until he landed on higher ground.

Sitting on a chair in the child protection centre, you can sense the sadness in Htoo's eyes, but it will take a psychologist to treat the underlying trauma. Fortunately, Htoo has been surrounded by committed and caring volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross Society, who run the centre with support from UNICEF.

Volunteers

Since the cyclone struck, the volunteers have taken turns looking after the children, preparing their meals, helping them with homework and organizing plays when possible. Now a more systematic psychosocial support programme is being implemented as the whole operation gradually moves from relief to recovery.

So far, 25 volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross Society have been trained in psychosocial counselling, and they in turn will train their peers. The training will target community leaders, teachers, monks and other groups, and it is designed to help the healing process as the children deal with their trauma and loss. Htoo and the other children from the centre, to

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