Myanmar-Chinese artists donate for cyclone-hit region

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/22/content_10235081.htm

2008-10-22 20:08:01 Print

YANGON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar-Chinese artists from the local music circle in Yangon donated 18 million kyats (15,000 U.S. dollars) in cash to the Myanmar education authorities Wednesday to help rebuild education infrastructure in a cyclone-hard-hit area in the country's southwestern Ayeyawaddy delta.

Obtained from a recent fund-raising charity live music show, sponsored by the amateur Myanmar-Guangdong Music Band and involving eight other music groups, the fund is to be used for building a primary school in Dedaye Township's Thegonelay village.

The donation ceremony held at the State Basic Education Department-1. And over a dozen representatives of the Myanmar-Chinese artists involved in the performance attended it.

The charity music show was the first ever of its kind held in the Myanmar-Chinese community in Yangon to extend loving kindness and compassion to storm victims.

The music show, performed by over a hundred artists including musicians, vocalists and dancers and attended by the community dignatries, drew nearly 1,000 audiences, winning a huge wave of applause.

Not long after cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, several overseas Chinese associations, big and small, had made respective donationsto the cyclone-hit areas through the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

These organizations include Overseas Chinese Charity Association, Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Fujian Native Association, and Guangdong Native Association as well as Mutai Temple and Qingfu Temple.



Meanwhile, popular Myanmar musicians and vocalists have also been holding a series of live shows in the country, mainly in Yangon and Mandalay, in the post-Nargis period to help raise relief funds for cyclone survivors and for reconstruction of the storm-ravaged regions.

Deadly cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon andKayin on last May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.

Official death toll showed the storm has killed 84,537 people and left 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured.

Basic education schools, destroyed in the Ayeyawaddy delta's seven townships, amounted to 1,785 in number, of which 550 have been repaired, according to the education authorities.


Editor: Zheng E