IRIN
MYANMAR: Assessment hard in wake of Cyclone Nargis destruction
4 May 2008


BANGKOK, 4 May 2008 (IRIN) - At least 243 people were killed and tens of 
thousands made homeless when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 2 May and 
swept through parts of the country the following day, according to state 
media. Flooding, blocked roads and disrupted communications are 
hampering efforts to assess the full extent of the damage, UN officials 
said.

Early on 3 May, the tropical cyclone, which was packing winds of 190 
kilometres (120 miles) per hour, slammed into Yangon (also known as 
Rangoon), the country's former capital and home to more than five 
million people. According to Chris Kaye, the acting UN 
resident/humanitarian coordinator in Yangon, the cyclone caused severe 
damage in the low-lying city with extensive flooding and roads blocked 
by falling trees and debris.

According to UN officials, the water supply is unfit to drink in the 
aftermath of the destruction, raising fears of water-borne diseases. 
Electricity is not working, landline communications are disrupted, 
mobile phone communications work sporadically, and radio and television 
networks are not operating. In addition, ocean storm surges of up to 12 
feet (3.5 metres) are putting residents of coastal communities at high 
risk, meteorological officials said.

Authorities have ordered all Yangon residents to stay at home, and all 
flights to Yangon International Airport have been diverted.

The government has declared a state of emergency in five low-lying 
provinces, most in the Irrawaddy delta.

Co-ordinating response

UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are meeting to 
assess the situation and will work closely with the national Red Cross 
Society and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, 
which is responsible for coordinating the response to natural disasters.

Michael Annear, Asia and Pacific Disaster Coordinator for the 
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 
told IRIN from Bangkok that a joint IFRC and Myanmar Red Cross team was 
undertaking a needs assessment in Yangon on 4 May and that on 5 May 
three Myanmar Red Cross teams will assess affected rural areas.

The UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) 
have field officers in place in Yangon and throughout the delta area. UN 
agencies and other humanitarian organisations have stockpiled food, 
water and medical supplies in various locations, including the delta 
region and Yangon. UN officials said they anticipate an urgent need for 
plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking sets, bed nets, 
emergency health kits and food.

Cyclone Nargis continued to move northeast on 4 May into Thailand though 
its effect is said to be lessening. Bangkok media reported that Thai 
navy ships rescued 302 stranded tourists from Surin island in the 
Andaman Sea and the Thai meteorological office has issued a warning of 
possible flooding and landslides on 5 May in 16 provinces in the west 
and northwest of the country.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
   Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                               guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -