OCHA Situation Report No. 49
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
1 October 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OVERVIEW & KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 2-3 May 2008, affecting some 2.4 million 
people living in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Almost 140,000 people 
were killed or remain missing. The humanitarian operation now enters its 
fifth month. Strategic discussion continues towards planning for 
longer-term recovery while activities on the ground are moving into the 
early recovery phase.

- The Tripartite Core Group (TCG), consisting of high-level 
representatives of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the 
United Nations, continues to provide a forum to foster cooperation and 
resolve issues affecting efficient delivery of post Nargis response 
activities. Through TCG, the "master plan" of the Government for 
longer-term recovery, which collated and summarised ministerial plans 
was shared with clusters this week. It has been agreed that sectoral 
plans will be developed for the five areas of cooperation that the UN 
has identified and agreed with TCG: Livelihoods (agriculture and 
non-agriculture); Education; Health; Water and Sanitation; and Disaster 
Response & Preparedness (including shelter). This process is called the 
"Post Nargis Recovery Preparation and Plan" (PONREPP),

- The Revised Appeal, launched on 10 July, is 52% funded (US$240 million 
out of US$464 million requirements), with US$12 million in uncommitted 
pledges, according to OCHA's Financial Tracking Services (FTS). Outside 
the Appeal, US$151 million in funding and US$39 million in uncommitted 
pledges are recorded in FTS. Currently, some differences between FTS 
data and agency reports at the country level exist and these are being 
analysed. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)/IASC continue its effort 
to encourage accurate and timely updating to FTS by donors and agencies. 
In order to assess the outstanding resource requirements and priorities, 
The agencies in the Revised Appeal undertook a prioritisation exercise 
over the last 2 weeks. The data is currently being collated and 
analysed. The IASC is also providing monthly financial updates per 
cluster to the authorities, as requested. This cluster financial 
reporting includes data on funds expended for commodities, 
transportation, staffing, cash assistance, among others, in addition to 
data on funds received.

- In the resettlement villages designated by the Government for the 
remaining IDP caseload in 3 Mile and 5 Mile camps in Labutta, 204 IDP 
households (764 people) currently reside in 172 houses in Min Kone and 
239 households (853 people) in 199 houses in Pein Nai Taung. These IDPs 
have been registered by the Township Immigration Department. The 
Government has set up a clinic in each of these villages which are 
providing free medical services. In both sites, no serious health 
problems have been reported thus far. Women have recently delivered 
babies with the care of the midwife or the clinic. UNDP has included 
these villages in its community support project. It has been reported 
that the local authorities request international staff to seek approval 
prior to visiting these resettlement villages.

- Another 73 IDP households (235 people) who used to stay in the 5 Mile 
camp had returned to the places of their origin but since went back 
again to the camp. Thirty nine of the 73 families used to engage in 
fishing while others used to be street vendors. They then resettled to 
Kyauk Phyu village at the beginning of September (ref. Situation Report 
No. 48). The authorities initially did not approve of these families 
resettling in Kyauk Phyu village, as they had signed an agreement with 
the government, agreeing to return to the places of their origin after 
they received assistance, such as food rations, shelter kits, NFIs and 
cash grants. Whist these IDPs have received such assistance, the 
authority announced 2 weeks ago that the 73 families would be allowed to 
remain in Kyauk Phyu until the rainy season was over. UNHCR continued to 
provide shelter kits and OCHA continued monitoring the situation. On 20 
September, these IDPs were given a 5-day notice to return to their 
villages, as per the signed agreement. The authority cited a plan to 
widen the road, along which some of the IDPs erected shelter. The IDPs 
have started returning to their villages in southern Labutta, such as Sa 
Lu Seik, Yway, Tei Pin Kaing and Yae Twin Seik villages. The OCHA hub 
office will continue closely monitor the situation.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=71A621E79A3412DCC12574D50045FB08&file=Full_Report.pdf


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis           www.cidi.org/incident/myanmar-08e