Cyclone Nargis hits home with the Refugee Program
Wednesday June 11, 2008, Pensacola
Cyclone Nargis, hit Burma on May 2-3, early Saturday morning, brought 120-mph winds and 12-foot waves to the country. The storm left at least 78,000 dead, 56,000 missing and up to 1 million homeless. Thousands of others could be killed with disease and dehydration if the leader of the country is not accepting aids from the outside world. Military junta is not allowing other countries to come in and help. Aid groups are ready to provide further assistance with the permission of the rulers of Burma (Myanmar). Burmese officials are not waiving visa requirements for aid workers trying to get into the country to help. Since the storm, electricity remained cut off for almost all residents of Rangoon, Burma and water is only available to a few of the city’s 4.1 million residents. The most urgent needs, according to the United Nations, include water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, health kits, food and cooking sets, and possibly fuel supplies.
Even before the cyclone, Burma’s people were in dire need of help. Many Burmese sought to flee the country for a better life. Once they were able to flee the country successfully, they became refugees. The office has already resettled thirteen Burmese successfully throughout the last fiscal year. We are in the process of resettling two more Burmese families after Cyclone Nargis. Fortunately these families were able to flee the country before the storm hit.
However, these two cases are different. We have a situation in our Refugee Program for the first time. Staff is able to provide quality, comprehensive case management to assist these families, however, in the past we have not been responsible for locating and arranging for housing. Until now…. Our refugee program has received a referral from United States Catholic Conference of Bishop (USCCB) for 3 adults: one married couple and a 19 year old relative. Catholic Charities is a designated sponsoring agency with USCCB and we are required to provide resettlement assistance to refugees. The anchor, also known as the sponsor, normally provides housing and other necessities to the refugees coming over to the US.
Unfortunately, the anchor informed us on the week of their arrival that he will only provide two weeks of housing for our refugee. Since our program is not under Match Grant, this office doesn’t have the manpower or the resources necessary to provide refugees with full case management. When an agency is under the Match Grant Program, they are responsible for finding housing, jobs, providing transportation and taking care of all necessities that the refugees will need to become self sufficient. This agency was looking into joining the Match Grant Program at the end of October and taking on free cases. To the office’s surprise, we are taking on free cases before we were planning to do so. Fortunately, with luck on our side, we were able to find a two bedroom house for our three refugees.
The Refugee Office, with the agency’s help, continues to strive to provide quality services needed to help our refugees’ transition here in the US. The office has been resettling refugees for over 35 years and continues to face many challenges, but always works to have a positive outcome.