OCHA Situation Report No. 9
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
14 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, UNDAC, regional 
humanitarian partners and media sources.

I. SITUATION IN MYANMAR

1. Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, making landfall in 
Ayeyarwady Division and directly hitting the country's largest city, 
Yangon. 40 townships in Yangon Division and 7 townships in Ayeyarwady 
Division remain on the Government's list of disaster areas.

2. Assessment teams have reported major damage in affected areas, 
particularly the low-lying delta region, where the Cyclone's impact was 
compounded by a storm surge. The delta townships of Labutta, Bogale and 
Mawlamyinegyun were especially heavily hit. The official death toll now 
stands at 31,938, with 29,770 missing. Unofficial estimates are 
considerably higher. Based on the original Government figure of 975,858 
persons affected three days after the disaster in the eight most seriously 
hit townships, it is estimated that at least 1,500,000 people are severely 
affected.

3. Food, shelter, medical supplies and water are all critical needs. The 
early rehabilitation of farmers has also been identified as being crucial, 
as the affected area is an important rice-growing area. People are now 
reported to have begun migrating outwards from the most affected areas in 
search of basic necessities while others are stranded in areas of the 
delta without drinking water, food or shelter. The movement of affected 
populations is rendering some of the assessment data out-of-date. Damaged 
infrastructure and communications, as well as flooding, pose serious 
logistical challenges for relief efforts. Weather reports for affected 
areas in the coming days continue to be unfavourable, with heavy rainfall 
predicted.

4. Flights carrying relief items have been getting in to the country, and 
the Government and humanitarian partners are reaching an increasing number 
of affected persons. However, the levels of aid getting in to the country 
remain far below what is required to meet the needs on the ground.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. State media reported on 12 May that a total of 9,330 cyclone victims 
have been evacuated from the worst-hit parts of the southwest of 
Ayeyarwady Division to relief sites in Maubin, Wakema and Myaungmya 
townships.

6. The Myanmar Minister of National Planning and Economic Development has 
now stated that aid from any nation will be accepted and that delivery of 
relief goods can be handled by local organisations and people working in 
international agencies provided this is carried out in cooperation with 
the Government. The movement of international relief workers to the 
disaster-hit areas is still restricted.

For more information please contact:

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood
Tel. +95 (0)1 542910, +95 (0)1 542917
+95 (0)1 544187, Ext. 107
Email: undacmyanmar@gmail.com

Contact for local media inquiries:
United Nations Information Centres
Mr. Aye Win
Tel. +95 (0)1 577057
Tel. (cell) +95 (0)9 5123 952

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

General enquiries:
OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: ocha-roap@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: +1 212-963-1773
Email: asekenye-oonyu@un.org

Myanmar Desk
(NY) Mr. Ivan Lupis
Tel. +1 917 367 2056
Bberry +1 917 640 3819
Email: lupis@un.org

Press Contact in NY:
Stephanie Bunker
Tel: +1 917 476 6164
Email: bunker@un.org

Press Contact in Geneva:
Elizabeth Byrs
Tel: +41 22 917 26 53
Email: byrs@un.org

For Maps on Cyclone Nargis and Myanmar:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.nsf/doc404?OpenForm&emid=TC-2008-000057-MMR&rc=3

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid   CCDED2D5DBA2958525744800713C41&file=Full_Report.pdf

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