OCHA Situation Report No. 11
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
15 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 official death toll now stands at 38,491, 
with 27,838 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, the UN now 
estimates that between 1.6 and 2.5 million people may be severely 
affected.

3. Food, shelter, medical supplies and water are all critical needs. There 
is a growing risk of the outbreak of disease among affected populations. 
The early rehabilitation of the agricultural sector has also been 
identified as being crucial, as the affected area is central to Myanmar's 
rice industry. People have been migrating outwards from the most affected 
areas in search of basic necessities. Early estimates suggest that 
temporary settlements may now be sheltering over 550,000 people in 
Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Agencies on the ground are in the process 
of mapping the locations of these sites and the numbers of people in each. 
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. Relief flights continue to land at Yangon International Airport, 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. There 
is also concern that a logistical bottleneck may be developing in Yangon.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. State media reported on 15 May that a total of 327.18 tons of aid 
supplies have been transported by the authorities to affected areas 
including Bogale, Kamatalu, Kyeinchaung, Setsan, Kyonda, Amar, Pathein, 
Labutta and Myaungmya. The same source also reported that 4,312,911,656 
Myanmar Kyat (USD 3,750,000 approx.) in cash donations had been made 
nationwide for relief to storm victims, up until 14 May.

* source: New Light of Myanmar, State English-language newspaper, 15 May 
2008.

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&docidy25903EDD7184078525744A0070F5A4&file=Full_Report.pdf


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