4th June 2020,
Ward 67, Dagon Seikkan, YANGON
Press release: Face-masks donation from informal settlements to Yangon authorities
Bawa Pann Daing women business group from the Yangon informal settlements community donated face-masks to Yangon Regional Government, Yangon City Development Council, and General Administration Department to support the government in its reaction to the COVID-19 health crisis. Informal settlements are among the most vulnerable communities facing COVID-19, high population density, scarcity of water and health services, informal and insecure employment pose great challenges in times of pandemic. Informal settlements in Yangon house 450 000 people, mostly migrants impacted by rural poverty and environmental disasters. City dwellers contribute to the new industrial workforce and help to attract investment as they represent a cheap workforce to be found near industrial zones especially Hlaing Thar Yar and Dagon Seikkan. Urban poor can’t access formal housing as few efforts are being implemented to build new affordable housing, real estate project too often focusing on high and middle-income customers. Informal settlements are born as a solution to this problem. Meanwhile, informal settlements communities fear eviction from government bodies and political representatives. Excluded from municipal services, informal settlements receive no support for waste management, water supply, electricity supply, and face discrimination when applying for regular jobs and schools for their children.
A group of women leaders from the 20 000-population settlement in Dagon Seikkan, Ward 67 demonstrated great resilience and adaptability in the wake of the COVID-19 threat. They created Bawa Pann Daing business group, a women-led social business producing facemasks. While most of the workforce is suffering from the loss of income and are struggling to make ends meet, they decided to start production of cotton-made reusable, washable facemasks. In one month, they set up a production facility and have produced 6000 masks. Supported by the French Development Agency, Green Lotus, and Action Aid Myanmar they distributed mass freely to their community. They also decided to contribute to the national reaction to COVID-19 and offered in total 800 masks to YCDC, GAD, and YRG. This demonstrates their spirit of cooperation, despite regular threats of eviction from real-estate developers, the community chooses to support and trust the country elected representatives.
Bawa Pann Daing business group, and the community of ward 67 in Dagon Seikkan wishes to show its gratitude to the Yangon Regional Government, Yangon City Development Council, and General Administration Department in this time of challenge. The community hopes that its donation highlights the benefit of mutual understanding and cooperation. Informal settlements wish that the government will ban eviction and consider welcoming them as part of the city in the spirit of democracy.
Signatories:
Members of Bawa Pann Daing (Women Business Group)
Daw Zar Zar Htwe Manager
Daw Khin Khin Win Seamstress
Daw San San Myint Seamstress
Ma Htet Htet Seamstress
Ma Ei Ei Htwe Seamstress
Ma Ei Thu Aung Seamstress
Ma Ei Zarchi Phyo Seamstress
Ma Htet Htet Aung Seamstress
Ma Nann Ngu Wah Seamstress
Ma Nyunt Nyunt Than Seamstress
Daw Myint Myint Maw Seamstress
Daw Win Win Nwe Seamstress
Ma Zin Mar Win Seamstress
Ma Khin Lay Mar Seamstress
Members of Ward Disaster Management Committee
U Aung Zaw General Secretary of WDMC
U Aung Win 100 Households Leader
U Cho Oo Member of WDMC
U Tint San Member of WDMC
Daw Soe Soe Khaing Member of WDMC
Daw Htay Htay Win Member of WDMC
Daw Chaw Hsu Hlaing Member of WDMC
U Win Hlaing Member of WDMC
U Pite 100 Households Leader
U Nyunt Win General Administration Department Administrator