Myanmar (Burma) Update

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KEY FACTS

The cyclone wreaked devastation across the Irrawaddy Delta region, killing tens of thousands – possibly as many as 100,000 – destroying homes, schools and hospitals and submerging some of the country’s most fertile lands just before harvest.

Possibly between two and two and a half million people have been affected by the cyclone, hundreds of thousands are without access to clean water, food, shelter, sanitation and medication.

On 2nd May, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar (Burma) with winds up to 190km an hour and a two metre tidal surge. It wreaked devastation across the Irrawaddy Delta region, killing tens of thousands – possibly as many as 100,000 – destroying homes, schools and hospitals and submerging some of the country’s most fertile lands just before harvest. People are living in temporary shelters, possibly as many as half a million in temporary camps, while others seek refuge in monasteries and schools. Forty townships in Yangon Division and seven townships in Irrawaddy Division remain on disaster lists. Possibly between two and two and a half million people have been affected by the cyclone, hundreds of thousands are without access to clean water, food, shelter, sanitation and medication. Myanmar state television puts the death toll at just over 38,000 although aid agencies suggest it will be much higher. If aid does not reach people quickly, they face serious issues of health and starvation.

Aid is getting into Burma but not at the levels that are typically seen following a natural disaster. Flights carrying aid are slowly entering the country but UNOCHA reports concerns of a bottleneck developing in Yangon as aid piles up rather than reaching those most in need. The tidal surge that killed so many has also made it extremely difficult to reach the most remote areas. There are concerns now among aid agencies that further delays in delivery of aid would cause already present tensions to rise in to violence. The double of food prices and high rise in fuel prices (common after natural disasters) exacerbate this situation. The WFP reports that it is only managing to move a fifth of the ideal food tonnage a day.

In order to side track known problems with visa issuing, WJR is working only with trusted local partners. this means that while larger agencies were forced to wait in Bangkok for days, WJR was able to mobilise its relief effort almost immediately. It also means that where large agencies have had to apply for permissions to ship in supplies, WJR’s partners were purchasing goods locally and distributing immediately to those most in need.

WJR’s immediate provision of emergency assistance included plastic sheeting for temporary shelter and relief kits (re-hydration salts, medicines, water purification tablets and rice). Through our local partners, who prefer not to be named for security reasons, WJR is helping to reach almost 200,000 cyclone survivors.

In the coming weeks, WJR will work with partners to assess longer-term inputs such as seeds to allow farmers to replant their devastated rice paddies. In the coming weeks, WJR will work with partners to assess longer-term inputs such as seeds to allow farmers to replant their devastated rice paddies – the five states most affected by the cyclone produce 65% of the country’s rice – according to the FAO, around 20% of paddies have been damaged. Planting of new rice must take place within the next six weeks if October’s harvest is to be successful.