OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
7 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the UN
Resident Coordinator's Office, Myanmar, UN agencies, regional humanitarian
partners and media sources.

I. SITUATION IN MYANMAR

1. Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, sweeping through the
Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) delta region and the country's largest city,
Yangon. The authorities have declared five states and divisions (Yangon,
Ayeyarwady, Bago, Mon and Kayin) to be disaster zones.

2. It is quickly becoming clear that the cyclone has caused unprecedented
devastation in the affected areas. State media is still holding the death
toll at over 22,000, with more than 41,000 missing. It is expected that
these figures will rise; it is now evident that the majority of the deaths
have occurred in the low-lying delta region, where Category 4 winds and a
3.5 meter storm surge destroyed 90-95% of the buildings and houses in 7
townships, according to the Government. 10,000 deaths have been reported
in the town of Bogalay alone, and most of its 190,000 residents are
reported to be homeless. Large areas remain underwater.

3. The situation is becoming increasingly precarious, with relief capacity
inside the country already severely stretched, both in terms of supplies
and human resources. Over one million people are now expected to be in
need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Severe flooding and damaged
infrastructure and communications continue to pose major logistical
problems both for assessment and for the provision of relief.

4. The UN Country Team considers critical needs to be plastic sheeting,
water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health
kits and food. Reports of water and fuel shortages are already appearing
in mainstream media. The food security situation in the country, which was
already severe, looks set to become far more acute.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. Military and police units are carrying out rescue and cleanup
operations, and distributing aid. Power and water have now been returned
to some areas. There have been reports of the first helicopter aid
deliveries to the Delta region.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The UN continues to consult closely with the Government about the need
for international support, which is available across all key priority
areas. It continues to be stressed that the issuance of visas for
humanitarian actors and the easing of customs rules for the delivery of
aid as soon as possible will greatly enhance the international community's
ability to meet the needs identified by the Government. The first days
following a disaster are critical moment for Myanmar's vulnerable
populations.

7. The Government has now authorized the UN to airlift relief items to
Myanmar from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in
Brindisi.  A small team of OCHA staff will accompany the flight from
Brindisi.

Coordinated In-Country Response

8. The cluster approach has been activated by the Humanitarian Country
Team to support the efforts of the Government. Proper implementation of
this framework will ensure that there is a common approach in place from
the beginning which will allow for inclusive needs assessments and the
strategic prioritization of available resources. The Country Team has
finalized a first draft of the Flash Appeal despite significant logistical
difficulties. It is envisaged that a CERF grant will be made against the
Appeal document.

9. Regional meetings in Bangkok today allowed cluster lead agencies to
exchange information and updates about progress in key sectors.

Food

10. WFP has 3,800 metric tons of food commodities in the country, 980 of
which are in Yangon. Distribution got underway yesterday, with 30 metric
tonnes of rice delivered to clinics on the outskirts of Yangon. A further
delivery of 80 metric tons was planned for today, split between
Hlaingtharya (Yangon) and Labutta (Ayeyarwady). WFP has also been able to
airlift additional food supplies into the country today, with flights on
standby on Friday and Saturday.

Logistics

11. A four-person support cell for the logistics cluster has arrived in
Bangkok and is developing an inter-agency logistics support plan. WFP, as
cluster lead, is preparing to move a range of interagency logistical
support, including generators, mobile offices, storage tents and boats
into the country. They hope to start doing so today. Part of the Flash
Appeal will seek to provide for interagency logistical support.

WASH

12. UNICEF has been carrying out needs assessments in this sector with 16
NGOs. Locally-procured water purification tablets that have been
distributed, but it is not clear further supplies will be available
in-country, due to damage to factories. UNICEF currently puts immediate
needs for the three clusters it leads at USD 10-15 million.

Shelter

13. Given the significant number of damaged and destroyed homes and the
approaching rainy season, shelter will be a critical need. On Monday UNHCR
procured local plastic sheeting and other shelter material worth USD
50,000. Material stockpiled in Bangkok is being moved into the country to
bolster the initial response. IOM is also providing support on shelter,
especially in terms of logistics. They hope to be able to move materials
to the delta within the next week.

Health

14. WHO in-country staff are working with Myanmar Health Ministry
officials to carry out health assessments and to distribute health kits.
WHO is providing support from Bangkok and from its regional office in
Delhi. Health supplies have already been sent from Brindisi with the
assistance of the Italian Government.

Communications

15. Communication remains a critical issue: Phone networks (land line and
mobile) have been partly recovered, but are still very limited. Only UN
agencies currently have internet access. WFP is hoping to be able to move
in some communications equipment in the coming days.

Education

16. UNICEF and Save the Children are currently leading on education.
Immediate priorities have been assessing damage to schools and starting to
plan for education to resume on 1 June.

INGOs and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies

17. IFRC launched a preliminary Emergency Appeal seeking CHF 6,290,909
(USD 5.9 million) to support the MRCS in providing assistance to 30,000
families for 6 months. The funds are intended to cover shelter, clothing,
utensils and tools and other immediate relief needs. A DREF grant has
already enabled to MRCS to carry out immediate needs assessments of some
affected areas and distribute some relief items. The National Society has
emerged as a key player in assessment and relief efforts so far, though
resources and capacity are being stretched. The Federation also already
has pre-positioned stocks in place in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

18. Various INGOs are already present in Myanmar and have been carrying
out assessments as well as providing relief. Save the Children has been
able to target 30,000 beneficiaries by diverting resources from
pre-existing projects. They are now sending relief goods to Pathein, in
the Delta, with food, shelter and water purification materials. They have
been organising logistics capacity (trucks, boats etc.) to distribute
supplies in the worst-hit parts of the delta. They are also cochairing the
education cluster. Care International has teams in Yangon and Mon State,
and has been working with WFP on the distribution of food. World Vision
International has launched a USD 3 million appeal to get aid into the
country, to assist 250,000 people. A flight carrying relief materials from
Dubai has already landed, and further supplies are on standby in Germany.

Coordination at the regional level

19. Four UNDAC members are to travel to Yangon tomorrow evening.

20. IASC regional partners in Bangkok continue to meet regularly to
exchange information on the situation, and to discuss support for
in-country activities, including possible staff deployments. This
afternoon, OCHA ROAP hosted a briefing by regional IASC partners for the
local donor and diplomatic community. The briefing allowed agencies to
pass on key information and messages, as well as an opportunity for donors
to underscore their concerns.

Update on bilateral assistance

21. For updated information on financial contributions, please refer to
the OCHA Financial Tracking System website: http://reliefweb.int/fts/.
Donors are encouraged to verify contributions and inform OCHA Financial
Tracking System (FTS) of corrections/additions/values to this table. The
direct email address is: fts@reliefweb.int.

For more information please contact:

International relief focal point
Mr. Winston Chang
Tel. +4179 469 8589
Email: changw@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Norwin Schafferer
Tel. +66 81174 8335
Email: schafferer@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Sebastian Rhodes Stampa
Tel. +66 89204 2721
Email: rhodesstampa@un.org

Asia and Pacific Desk
Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu
Mob: +1 917 476 6164
Tel: 212-963-1773
Email: asekenye-oonyu@un.org

Press contact:

(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1 917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. (+41 22 917 2653

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=10368E5FB1AFF3754925744300082578&file=Full_Report.pdf


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