Residents of Sinswepwet Ward in Amarapura Township, Mandalay Region, have reported that Ward Administrator Nyunt Wei has misappropriated 7 million kyat (70 lakhs) in aid money intended for the families of seven earthquake victims. The devastating Sagaing earthquake that struck on March 28 caused numerous casualties in Mandalay Region, including seven deaths in Sinswepwet Ward. Among the deceased were Daw Mya Mya, U Nyunt Win, Daw Hla Yi, and Ma Jam.
While donors had contributed 7 million kyat as support for the families of the seven victims, Ward Administrator Nyunt Wei reportedly kept the money for personal use instead of distributing it to the bereaved families. Furthermore, it has been revealed that Ten-House Leader Gauk Tun (aka) Zaw Phone Myint, in collaboration with the ward administrator, has been distributing aid only to their family members and relatives, rather than to those affected by the earthquake.
According to local residents, Ten-House Leader Gauk Tun (aka) Zaw Phone Myint has been regularly collecting aid packages for five families, including his own family, his son’s family, his daughter’s family, and his two sisters’ families. Each household receives 100,000 kyat, 12 pyi of rice, 2 bottles of cooking oil, 1 mosquito net, instant noodles, soap bars, and washing powder. Another Ten-House Leader, Pyar Gyi (aka) Kyaw Myo Htut, has also been accused of misappropriating donation funds.
More than a month after the Sagaing earthquake struck Mandalay, earthquake victims report that they have received no assistance from the military council and are struggling to survive on their own. They also emphasize that aid intended for earthquake victims by donors has not reached the truly affected people, as ward administrators and ten-house leaders have misappropriated the donations for themselves. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by disaster-affected civilians who are unable to access much-needed humanitarian assistance due to local administrative corruption.
