Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar in May 2008. This category 5 cyclone (called hurricane in America) was the worst ever for Myanmar,” leaving utter destruction in its wake. For the poverty-stricken survivors, the struggle for continued existence leeched at their hope”, according to Mission Network News. 

“Yet, one year later, Jacqueline Koster of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee says it’s encouraging to see how much progress has been made. Despite long delays for aid shipments, as well as government resistance to “outside” help, the teams were able to get in because of their longstanding partnerships. ”

“Fishing nets? Consider this story from the village of Thaung Lay, where the population is half what it was prior to the cyclone. There, Kan Kung has been working hard to re-establish his livelihood. Before Nargis, he was a fisherman with eight nets and a boat, but the storm surge washed away everything except the clothes he was wearing. He lost all his children, his mother, his nieces, and his nephews. ”

Full story in Mission Network News.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifrc/2480828618/ .