On the ground; this week's updates

Yangon
While damage inflicted by Cyclone Nargis is limited in Yangon, many residents are still having a hard time coping. Electricity is still not available in many areas, and as the price of zinc sheets have shot up, repair works have become too costly for low-income families.

Residents say it costs upwards of 50,000 kyats to clear a fallen tree. One neighbourhood coughed up 1 million kyats to repair their electric cables; each household put in 50,000. One sheet of corrugated zinc (we're checking exact measurements) costs about 6000 kyats.

Cyclone Victims
Travelers to the Irrawaddy Delta told Cyclone Aid that aid organised by local authorities had limited reach, and many refugees are reliant on private donors for their daily meals. This is especially so in areas such as Myaung Mya and Maubin, which are considered to have fared relatively better in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. NGO's seem to be focusing on places such as Laputta, which are the worst hit.

Many of the refugees in Rangoon Division seemed to have retained their fighting spirit, and are trying to reclaim their lives. Families have scraped together bits or tarpaulin, bamboo poles and other materials to build shelters for themselves. This has not been easy; 100 pieces of thatch are being sold for 22,000 kyats.

Elsewhere, there are stories both inspiring and heartbreaking. A woman saved lives by hanging on to a large tree, and asking 5 more people to hang on to her. All 6 of them lived, but the woman lost her arm in the process from prolonged trauma. Another committed suicide when she found herself to be the sole survivor; she had lost her husband and children to Nargis.

Democratic Voice of Burma reported last week that many refugees in camps are being told to return to their villages, despite having nothing to return to. Cyclone Aid also received news that the town of Bogalay is almost empty, as refugees have been asked to leave.

Non-government Organisations
According to our sources, the following NGO's are on the ground:
1. Red Cross
2. Save the Children
3. Unicef
4. World Food Programme
5. World Vision

Mercy Relief is not able to 'enter' yet as it is not able to release aid without the presence of its own personnel.

UNHCR currently has less than 10 people on the ground. According to a source in Yangon, even UNHCR's local staff are being restricted from entering the hard hit disaster zones in the Irrawaddy Delta.

The Medical Team sent by Singapore is currently stationed in TwanTe, far from the Irrawaddy Delta.

Groups such have Merlin, who went into disaster zones without permission from the government, are being asked to leave.