Displacement Narrators reporting from Myanmar: September 2020

Climate change and the environment determinants of violence and mental distress in fragile contexts: Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Nepal

Professor Tamsin Bradley, University of Portsmouth

Key issues among communities

In September there continued to be economic hardship particularly for migrant workers returning from China and factory workers returning from Yangon, where Covid-19 had resulted in many factories closing.  This month is the most difficult to get a job even as a casual labourer due to the floods, heavy rain, and natural disasters which happen every year. It is a very difficult time for employment and livelihoods.

The general election (due on November 8th) is also causing conflict in the village, as villagers are split 50/50 between supporting the National League for Democracy (NLD), the ruling party led by Aung San Su Kyi, known by its ‘red colour’ and the  Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) known by its ‘green colour’. This divided political climate does not help villagers find reliable sources of income.

This is the month when most of the villages alongside the river suffer from annual flooding, and environmental disasters that have arisen are outlined below.

Environmental conditions

Living in discomfort is normal for us already and inconvenience is a part of our life. But we are exhausted from running from place to place.”

Female narrator

The flood has not been as severe as in the past, so villagers were not required to flee from disaster zones. Although one road was fully flooded and most of the plots of land were destroyed, so people have relocated in a rush to higher ground.

Due to heavy rain, this month areas near the riversides are almost completely destroyed. This affected villagers from Shin Pyit Island village (2 hours drive from Pwintbyu), and especially villagers who were living in the middle of the river. Houses that were poorly build collapsed and these villagers fled to Chauk township (city) in Magwe Region, and fortunately, nobody went missing or passed away.

Floods have also destroyed farming fields this month, due to heavy rain, and as a consequence, the entire part of North Thein Gone was destroyed due to a disastrous landslide.

COVID situation

Just in the previous week, we were told that there were jobs available in Magway so, I travelled there with a broker but did not make it past Magway bridge. I was stopped from entering because of COVID-19 and travel restriction into the city. It was a loss for us. I came back and paid the broker’s fees. I quarantined for fourteen days outside of the village.”

Female narrator

The good news is that there are no positive Covid-19 cases as yet in these communities. There are cases in Magway City and Natmouk township. People can travel to the towns and cities as long as they wear masks, but they don’t need to wear masks when they are in the village. Currently, there are no serious activities in these villages to prevent Covid-19.

Mental health and wellbeing

The main causes of stress continue to be natural disasters which are part of the community’s normal life experience,  lack of income which has been an impact of Covid-19 elsewhere in the country and internationally, and the political climate causing conflict between the ‘red’ and ‘green’ groups.

Constraints arising from Covid-19 make it more difficult to travel and find jobs in the city, and this combined with lack of economic opportunities in the village makes it even more difficult to make a living.

Gender issues and incidents of violence

There are cases (not police cases) among couples of fighting about being jobless, arguments arising due to intoxication, and conflicts among villagers every day due to politics. No gender-based violence cases were reported case this month.

Support received from the government and other agencies

There was no support from the government this month in response to the flooding and no NGOs came to the rescue of the villagers.

Those who can afford to get water descent tube wells, and those who don’t have their own get water from another person’s tube well. The cost for one tube well is over one lakh MMK (around 100 USD). People in the village use tube well water for other purposes, not for drinking. For drinking water, they buy bottles which cost 500 MMK (about 25p).