Baby nearly drowns in parents' arms during Cyclone
All that remains of U Bo Kyi's house
When Cyclone Nagi hit Mezali Village, Myanmar, it caused devestation and many families lost each other while fleeing for safety.
Villagers tried to take shelter in their houses but these soon collapsed and they had to swim to survive. When the water level was about 4 feet high, U Bo Kyi, 54, and his family abandoned their house.
Just after we had left, the house collapsed. We were very lucky to be alive.
The village was flooded and the water level was gradually rising so despite the storm and it being dark they made their way towards the village monastery believing it to be safest place as it was a two storey brick building on higher land. However, trees were falling all over the village, some blocking the road towards the monastery and the strong current heading north carried them away in a different direction.
U Bo Kyi's son, Ko Wai Phyo, 26, was holding his 5-month-old daughter, Sandar Nwe', tightly to his chest while struggling towards the monastery but he lost control and floated away with his baby daughter being submerged under water many times. They drifted for about 1500 feet.
His wife, Ma San San Yu, exerted all her efforts to swim towards them and finally caught hold of his shirt. She grabbed them both and the three of them rolled and drifted along. Fortunately they were able to grab hold of a fallen coconut tree and held on until help came in the early hours of the morning, taking it in turns to lift their daughter above the water level so she didn’t drown. She survived, but only just.
The baby turned almost blue and fainted. We thought she was dead.
Finally, the whole family was reunited but with considerable cuts and bruises and they warmed up Sandar until she eventually regained consciousness but over the next three days she had to be sent to Bogale for medical treatment 3 times. Finally, when a Pact medical team (ActionAid partner) arrived at the village, they provided medical treatment and care and she gradually made a good recovery.
As Ma San San Yu was a long-term Micro Finance Union (MFU) member she was also able to receive cash for shelter assistance. As her house had been completely destroyed she was provided with K40000 ($35) by ActionAid to buy a new thatched roof. The family wholeheartedly appreciates the kind support they received and are now focusing on how they can start their farm work again to rebuild a sustainable livelihood.