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In some areas, we can’t even dig wells or drill deep wells because the groundwater is salty.

QUESTION: Do you know how many people have died or fallen ill because of the water shortages and high temperatures?

ANSWER: I don’t know about the situation in faraway townships, but in Rangoon, our funeral volunteer group is helping with nearly 80 funerals a day right now. Normally, there would be around 40 or 50 funerals a day at this time of year. I think the higher temperatures are responsible for many deaths, especially among the elderly. Ko Bala [actor Thu Maung] had a liver-related disease—he died because of the high temperature. Painter Than Myint Aung also died because of the extreme heat.

QUESTION: What are some of the challenges you face when helping people affected by the drought?

ANSWER: At the moment, we’re not having too much trouble with our water donations. We bought some 2,500-gallon water tanks. When we go to the villages around Dala, we first go to water donors in the town of Dala. After we fill the tank with water, we distribute it in the villages. Sometimes, when we don’t have water donors in Dala, we have to get the water in Rangoon and transport it to the Dala area. That makes our work more difficult.

QUESTION: Do you still have many local water donors?

ANSWER: Yes. For example, in Pegu there are local people cooperating with us.

QUESTION: After Cyclone Nargis, many volunteers assisted the survivors of that disaster. Do you see large numbers of volunteers helping in the water crisis?

ANSWER: I have seen quite a few people. But they are working under very tight controls. We learned a lot from the Cyclone Nargis relief work. There are both volunteers and ordinary people trying to help out in any way they can. The most important thing is their desire to help needy people. After Cyclone Nargis, I wasn’t able to go to every village affected by the storm, so I sent some volunteers there to take food, clothing, even money. Some misused those things and money that we received from different donors. That’s why we put the tight regulations in place this time.

QUESTION: You said that you will build reservoirs and drill deep wells for long-term use. Do you have any other plans to deal with the possibility of another drought next year?

ANSWER: Actually, we don’t have the capacity to carry out big projects. That is the responsibility of government. As you know, our main job is helping with funerals and running a clinic. I think the state should cooperate with experts and go into the field immediately and find out what they can do for the people.