The Spirit of Giving

What is it about religious holidays or disasters that ignite a spirit of charitable giving within humanity?  Is it the reminder of one’s own mortality in the wake of others dying  as a result of a calamity or the seasonal awakening of a conscience that is set in a rip van winkle like snooze the year round, that prompts people to give?  Nevertheless, one can draw a correlation between the amount and frequency people give and the time of the year, be it Christmas, Eid or any other holidays or any disaster that strikes as has been evident in recent years by the tsunami and numerous earthquakes and cyclones.  Whatever the reason, the motivation is still the same. It is done so that the donor feels an inner level of self satisfaction that help has been given out of sympathy to the helpless.

I have been reminded of this increasingly as a result of what has happened in the last couple of weeks.  With the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China, the humanitarian organisations have been in full swing hoping to raise money for two ‘politically difficult’ situations.  Nevertheless, people not swayed by political concerns have been moved to donate.  The other incident which has come to my mind is the recent vesak holidays in Sri Lanka.  Billed as the last long weekend for a while in Sri Lanka (notorious for its numerous public holidays), it was supposed to be a time of great celebration (which is always welcome) with lots of lanterns and the provision of Dhansala, which can best be described as the provision of free food to the public.  Literally in every nook and cranny, a  stall is set up and people give away food to passers by.  Stop at a traffic light and you are bound to be approached  by someone bringing something to eat.  People’s generosity knows no bounds…..

This year’s vesak was a little bit subdued.  Whilst many would argue that the ongoing security situation (not helped by the bomb that went off on the Friday before the Vesak weekend) contributed it was evident that something else was wrong.  This was evident from the Dhansala that was being served.  Traditionally it is rice and some accompaniments that is served.  However this time, there was a variation from the 2 minute Maggi noodles, to soup to fruits, anything but rice.

‘You see rice is expensive and the cost of cooking gas has gone up and so we can not do these as we used to’, a Dhansala stall holder ruefully remarked to me, reflecting the pinch that many ordinary people are feeling in terms of cost of living increases and rising food prices.

As the ‘silent tsunami’ (as it has been called by the world bank) slowly engulfs us, many people in Sri Lanka will not realise their plight until they are struck.  Whilst it is the poor and the most vulnerable that will be the first to suffer, no one is immune from the rising prices.  Yet in a country such as Sri Lanka which has blessed natural resources, the mere fact that food still has to be imported is a wonder

Yet the worrying part is how little this is of concern for people.  Much more than any other issue is the issue of food security which should be gripping people.  The mere fact that some people are going to bed hungry whilst others have plenty to eat is from all spiritual teachings a crime.

There are still weddings taking place in grand hotels and exclusive dinners that are being held where food is being wasted and thrown without any concern for the value and worth of what is put on the plate.  There are still people who insist on eating rice three times a day because they want to.  Such apathy to problems is reflected from the very top as well as can be seen from the acceptance of rice by Sri Lanka from Myanmar even after the cyclone had struck Myanmar robbing the country of vital rice stocks.

At times such as this, there is a need for dialogue and discussion on how collectively people can respond to this globally emerging crisis.  People need to be thinking of the short, medium and long terms in the case of addressing vulnerability.  Many countries have started food banks to address this issue, whilst others are talking about supporting better agricultural practices and addressing trade.  The key point is that Sri Lanka has been slow in starting or realising this point

Sri Lanka may still be a long way off from the food related riots that have gripped other parts of the world, but it may not be soon far from the handing out of dry rations which has so far been confined to parts of the country which have suffered from disaster.

Reflections from Myanmar

There is still an eerie calm in Yangon. Whilst the military have almost completed clearing the debris, the residents go about their daily business still evidently shell shocked over the worst natural disaster to hit Myanmar in 80 years.

For some of us who have been involved in other natural disasters, it is yet again a humbling reminder of mankind’s frailty in the face of nature and the Creator. What hit us when our team landed in Yangon, flying over the countryside, was a scene of total devastation, reminiscent of the tsunami that had struck 4 years ago, trees of 8 ft diameter levelled to the ground in the shape of a kneeling victim.

What we faced on the ground were challenges and resistance.  Resistance to outside help particularly from the west and resistance to foreigners visiting disaster struck areas.  Challenges, in terms of communications with mobile phones and CDMA reportedly costing $2000 - $2500 and internet facilities at hotels about $1 per 50 minutes.  On top of this, internet access is sometimes barred due to security reasons, and it becomes a game to see how alternative proxys can be used to send out information.

As in most other disasters, the NGOs gather around with the UN to form their cluster meetings and Yangon is no different, except for one thing, the cluster meetings are held largely in a vacuum with very little sense of what is happening on the ground.  The frustration is evident in every one’s faces as what we have to go on is the data (often under reported) provided by the government.

Before the restrictions on foreigner’s movement were made tighter last weekend, we were able to somehow visit one or two of the villages struck by the cyclone.  It is indescribable the appalling living conditions of those who have survived. In the  village of Kungyangon, in  an almost catatonic state, people were seen to be sifting through the destroyed remains of their homes. The detritus of disaster occasionally offering up possessions like mangled bicycles or touching mementoes of a life before the horror swept through the village. All too often though, it yielded the decomposing remains of those who were not quick enough to escape the deluge. 

The acrid smell of death permeated the atmosphere. There were bloated dead bodies still floating and lying in the paddy fields, which are also used by people for their drinking and bathing since there is no other source. 

It has taken us about 10 days to get our footing within Yangon and it has felt like a game of chess as we seek to make the most strategic move.  Despite the warmth and welcoming faces of the people as they realise that you are there to help, there is a feeling of being followed and being watched.  The Government Officials that we have dealt with have remarked in no uncertain terms that there will be ‘severe punishment’ for those that transgress.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, Muslim Aid launched a £2,000,000 appeal which has so far seen the distribution of dry rations, medicine and water purification through local partner.  The local partners are being trained by Muslim Aid staff to carry out water purification and to take this into the worst affected areas. 

There is much to be done as very little aid has gotten through so far.  Essential needs are still not being met and with the threat of water borne diseases still dangerously close, the crisis is just beginning.  It has just been announced that Aid Workers will be allowed in, which means that momentum will be gained as aid gets through and essential needs met over the coming days and weeks.

There is much to be done. After taking in the initial shock of how powerful the cyclone must have been to leave so much destruction, one begins to look around and take note of some of the less apparent scars – those which will take longer to heal.  Cities can always be rebuilt but the wounds of the hearts and mind will take longer.  It is plain that these wounds are deep.  One of the striking factors of this cyclone like the earthquake in China has been that many children died.

In the coming months there will be a huge need for the relief efforts to be stepped up in what has been a largely neglected country.  For now the people are in shock and will need to rely on the generosity and goodwill of their neighbours, goodwill that has remained despite the various obstacles placed thus far. But this goodwill is as exhaustible as the supplies which are needed for the refugees to live. Eventually people will have to begin looking after their own families and homes will have to be rebuilt. The worry for many people is that when the world inevitably moves on to the next newsworthy story the donations too will stop.