OCHA Situation Report No. 23
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
28 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received by the clusters, 
whose partners include UN Agencies, national and international NGOs, the 
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and IOM.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Today, the Government of the Union of Myanmar approved all remaining 
visa requests (45) for various UN agencies.

2. The leads of the Tripartite Core Group have been identified as follows: 
for the GoUM the Deputy Foreign Minister, from ASEAN the Thai Ambassador 
to Myanmar, and from the UN the Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.

3. Support to the national authorities is being strengthened through the 
increased participation of government representatives in the cluster. 
Formal invitations from the Clusters to relevant line ministries and 
authorities have been sent and favourably received.

4. The Food Cluster estimates that monthly food requirement is 
approximately 8,933 tons. The Food Cluster estimates now that it has 
reached approximately 483,000 beneficiaries with varying rations (aim to 
reach 750,000 people). WFP plans to cover 11 townships in Ayeyarwady and 8 
townships in Yangon for its emergency response. Verification process is 
underway to check overlaps and covering gaps in estimated beneficiary 
caseload. Reports from NGOs from remote areas have not been received; 
therefore the beneficiary numbers are not precise. Coordination of WFP 
food distribution plan is delegated to Township levels. If gaps are 
identified, it should be communicated to the WFP sub-offices in Labutta 
and Bogale. WFP as the designated lead for the food cluster is running an 
Emergency Operation for Myanmar with a budget of US$69.5 million aims to 
deliver a complete food basket to a total of 750,000 people in need of 
immediate food assistance. So far, this emergency operation has received 
21.3 million in contribution.

5. In Bogale local coordinated efforts for the Health Cluster are 
successfully being developed with UNICEF, IOM, WFP, UNHCR, ACF, MSF and a 
local NGO. As a result, a Joint Emergency Response Mobile Operation to 
provide multi-sectoral services to the cyclone victims has been 
established. The objectives of the joint operation are to provide 
multisectoral services to cyclone victims at the same time, to minimize 
the resources / cost and to maximize the provision of package of services 
/ care to cyclone victim.

6. The Shelter Cluster has formed a Strategic Advisory Group with the 
following members: IFRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, DFID and Save the Children. 
The SAG is responsible for the development of strategies for shelter 
interventions to ensure appropriate and equitable shelter assistance 
across the cyclone-affected regions. Organisations and Local organisations 
interested in participating were also invited to join.

7. An agreement has been reached between Sectoral clusters and the Early 
Recovery cluster to institutionalize a focal point mechanism to improve 
coordination in formulation and implementation of Early Recovery within 
individual clusters. Terms of Reference for each focal point is under 
development. It is envisaged that these focal points would form an Early 
Recovery Network.

8. There has been no update to the official figures for dead and missing 
since 16 May. 77,738 are reported dead and 55,917 missing.

I. NATIONAL RESPONSE

9. According to media reports, 122 power tillers, donated by the GoUM and 
a private company, will be distributed to farmers in storm-stricken areas 
in Dedaye township.

10. Pun Hlaing International Hospital is providing Disaster Relief and 
Rebuilding in the delta areas of Ngapudaw and Hain-Gyi, in particular 
areas where little assistance has been offered and where damage has been 
extensive with no medical relief. A Medical Relief Team (8 doctors, 4 
nurses, 1 pharmacist & 4 Gen Volunteers) left on 21st May to set up a mini 
hospital and mobile medical units at Thyin-Ka-Gon. This team was 
reinforced by a second team on 24 May. Discussions have been ongoing with 
senior local authorities and collaboration is good. The logistics are 
reported to be difficult since some areas are accessible only by boat.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=8A9195C5A1D41889852574570054DD82&file=Full_Report.pdf


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