Aftermath and Afterthought

It has been more than a week since the Sichuan earthquake happened. It happened many mile from here, but the extensive press coverage and the significant Chinese population here made it feel nearer than it was. Last week, 3 days after the quake struck, I was sent to photograph a young Chinese couple who came here to work in restaurant and the wife had lost her mother and niece to the quake, and there was no news of the remaining 4 family members. We were informed of their plight by another girl who also lost contact with her family in Sichuan. When I arrived at the apartment in Golden Mile complex, I could see that it was occupied by no less than 10people. I was always curious about this building, being one of the oldest private apartment block in Singapore. Arrived there at about 10 pm, I had to wait with about 20 others for the 3 lifts that served the 30 floors. 90% of the people I saw were foreigners, mainly from China. Everything there looked so foreign to me.

I entered a room of 4 troubled souls, either depressed from the sad news or anxious about not having any news from home. For once, I was welcomed into someone's private space to witness their saddest moments and take pictures. They seemed to understand the role of the press and I worked while they broke down in tears. There was nothing much to say, but to record the scene and convey the emotions through my pictures. This was the closest I felt to the disaster, and I could not comprehend the devastation to lives and families that it brought.

Let's not forget the victims of Cyclone Nargis, whose plight is made worst by their government. If only the world was allowed to see the true effects of the disaster in Myanmar and hear the stories of the victims.