AS IT IS 2015-12-11 A Long Recovery Ahead for Myanmar Chin State

AS IT IS 2015-12-11 A Long Recovery Ahead for Myanmar Chin State

Floods and landslides¹ in the Chin region of Myanmar displaced thousands of people this summer, but recovery has just begun.  

Almost 20,000 people were displaced by severe weather in western Myanmar, formerly² known as Burma, say relief groups. Locals called the heavy rains of July the worst natural disaster in memory. Towns and villages across the region were destroyed.  

Months after the landslides, roads in the capital of Chin state, Hakha, have been cleared. But in the rural areas, aid is hard to find.

Many of the emergency supplies sent to help Chin state had to pass through many flooded towns and villages. Supplies ran out before arriving in Chin.

Peter Brimble, a development official for Myanmar, said Chin’s location hurt recovery efforts.

“It’s tough to get in, and it’s tough to get out. … That causes a challenge … to get materials in and out to rebuild [damaged] assets,” Brimble said.

Another strategy to help people recover is moving them. The Myanmar government is spending about $3 million dollars to relocate residents.

Critics have two objections. The first is that contracts to rebuild will go to friends of favored officials. The second is that rebuilding will be rushed and low quality.  

Outside of Hakha, 700 new homes are being built. Inspectors³ have complained that this group of homes is in a remote location. Those waiting to move into the homes have been living in camps for nearly five months.    

Words in This Story

asset – n. a valuable person or thing

remote – adj. far away; distant

1 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》