OCHA Situation Report No. 42
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
24 July 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. Since early May, national, regional and international responders have 
been providing relief assistance to more than 1.3 million cyclone affected 
population in Myanmar. Some of the affected areas still remain a 
logistical challenge, further compounded by deteriorating road conditions 
due to incessant rainfall. Along with relief, efforts for early recovery 
have also started. The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report 
released on 21 July provides an objective analysis and agreed framework 
for the targeted provision of relief and community based recovery. The 
humanitarian needs assessment reflected in the PONJA report matches with 
those presented in the United Nations Revised Appeal of 10 July2.

2. John Holmes, United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian 
Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) paid a courtesy call to 
Prime Minister H.E. General Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw today. The ERC was 
accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator Bishow Parajuli, UN 
Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Dan Baker and Head of OCHA Myanmar Thierry 
Delbreuve. The ERC also met with H.E. U Soe Tha, Minister for National 
Planning and Economic Development, H.E. Major General Maung Maung Swe, 
Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, H.E. Dr. Kyaw Myint, 
Minister for Health, and Mr. U Maung Myint, Deputy Minister for Foreign 
Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. During his three-day mission that ended today, the 
ERC also met with Mr. U Kyaw Thu, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and 
Chairman of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), donors and representatives of 
the humanitarian community in Yangon. The ERC, based on his observations 
in the Delta, commented on the significant progress that had been made 
since his last visit, but then also noted that there are many more relief 
needs to be met in the harder to reach communities in the affected areas.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

3. The following information is provided by the clusters, which meet 
regularly to coordinate the humanitarian response of national and 
international NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and United Nations 
agencies. More detailed information on cluster coordination, maps, events, 
meeting schedules, contact lists and press releases are available at: 
http://myanmar.humanitarianinfo.org.

4. FOOD

Overall Achievements

- As of 24 July, a total of 24,567 tons of food assistance has been 
delivered to the affected areas, of which 19,829 tons has been 
distributed.

- Clearance of the 500 tons of rice imported from India is ongoing.

- Arrangements continue for the procurement of 5,000 tons of rice from 
Thailand.

- The dispatch of food commodities from Yangon into the Delta is ongoing, 
and most recently included:

- 532 tons of rice, 200 tons of pulses and 145 tons of oil delivered to 
Pyapon between 22 and 24 July;

  - 210 tons of pulses and 60 tons of oil delivered to Pathein (for 
Ngapudaw) on 22 July; and

- 50 tons of pulses and 33 tons of oil delivered to Laputta on 24 July.

- Distribution and Post-Distribution Monitoring training will continue to 
be available periodically to staff in the field. Partners interested in 
having their staff participate should contact Jedda.Constantine@wfp.org

Challenges

- Regional procurement of rice to avoid pipeline breaks, logistical 
challenges to reach the most affected communities and resources still 
remain major concerns.

Gaps and Future Planning

- Provision of short-term relief food distributions for 200,000 targeted 
beneficiaries in the Yangon Division.

- Planning for the local production of rice-based blended food for young 
children is ongoing.

Funding

- The Food cluster is 36% funded in the Revised Appeal, according to the 
OCHA Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=1234F816CC0C5F1885257490006145D1&file=Full_Report.pdf


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