ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Salai Pi Pi | New Delhi - A relief worker helping people in Western Burma's Chin state drowned on Thursday, when his boat capsized in the Kaladan River, while returning from an aid distribution trip, his colleagues said.

The body of John Tuihing (36), Acting Co-ordinator of the Indo-Burmese border-based Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee (CFERC), a humanitarian group formed with church leaders and social activists, was recovered after three days from the river, his colleague Sangbik said.

Sangbik, who is also a committee member of the CFERC, said John Tuihing was returning from a relief distribution mission to Paletwa Township in Chin state. Paletwa Township, has reportedly faced food shortage since the end of 2006, when rats multiplied after consuming bamboo blossoms.

"He went to Shinletwa village to distribute relief materials to the villagers. While he was returning from the village his boat capsized in the Kaladan River, near the Indo-Burmese border," Sangbik said.

According to CFERC, Paletwa Township in Chin State is one of the many townships that face severe food crisis caused by multiplying rats that destroy cornfields, barns and even kitchens.

Tuihing's death came as several Chin humanitarian groups began their secret cross border supply of aid to villagers in Chin state.

Food crisis in Chin state began in late 2006, when rats, which multiply after consuming a special bamboo flower, which blossoms once in fifty years, destroyed paddy and other crops in the fields across the state.

In response to the crisis, several Chin humanitarian groups in exile, including the Chin Humanitarian and Relief Committee and the CFERC had begun supplying relief materials to victims in the state.

However, the secretary of the Chin Humanitarian and Relief Committee, Rozathang, who recently returned from an assessment trip to the Indo-Burmese border, said several villagers in rural Chin State continue to live in severe food shortage in the absence of aid supplies.

"Now, most of them are in a condition that they can only have boiled rice mixed with vegetables. Some have left the village in search of a better place," Rozathang said.

He added that villagers in at least 33 villages from Falam, seven in Tedim and about 17 in Tonzang Townships in Chin state, are facing shortage of food. He, however, said since his findings were not based on scientific research or proper survey but only on observations, the magnitude of the crisis could be larger.

Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme, which has done a survey in the state, in an email message to Mizzima said, "It is estimated that 100,000 people are affected by the rat infestation and are either facing or will be facing food shortages."

In order to help villagers, WFP said it will provide food and cash assistance through 'Food/Cash for Work' activities, which would include building community infrastructure such as roads, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) would assist villagers with emergency food assistance.

The WFP said, so far it has received USD 478,261 to be used in assisting villagers in Chin state and the aid distribution will cover up to 55,000 affected people.

But, Chris Kaye, Country Director of WFP said, "The situation is still difficult and has deteriorated in some areas," adding that the WFP will conduct yet another assessment to examine the situation in areas not covered by their current project.