OCHA Situation Report No. 50
Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis
10 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. Nearing the mid-term of the Flash Appeal, 
which covers relief and early recovery up to April 2009, discussion has 
been intensifying as regards the ways forward for the cluster approach, 
immediate priorities up until the end of 2008, and medium and long-term 
recovery plans and processes. OCHA's Real Time Evaluation (RTE) mission 
has arrived in country and is proceeding with field visit after the entry 
consultation with stakeholders in Yangon.

- The Tripartite Core Group (TCG), consisting of high-level 
representatives of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the 
United Nations, continues regular and constructive interaction. The recent 
discussion on operational and regulatory matters included the issue of 
vehicle importation, and longer duration for visa and stay permits. ASEAN 
coordinators have been deployed to co-locate with OCHA hub offices to 
enhance field-level coordination.

- To regularly assess the progress made and identify outstanding needs in 
a comprehensive manner, the preparation for the TCG Periodic Review is 
ongoing for its first exercise in November. The Periodic Review will build 
on the Village Tract Assessment (VTA) component of the Post-Nargis Joint 
Assessment (PoNJA). The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has met forth time 
on 8 October and endorsed the indicators. The Strategic Advisory Group 
(SAG) met for the first time on 8 October as well. The questionnaire is 
nearly completed and the next mile stone is the opening ceremony, 
scheduled for 19 October, and the training of enumerators. It is planned 
that 80 enumerators will be mobilised from partners, for which the 
Government has committed 30.

- To complement Government's long-term recovery efforts, the humanitarian 
community is engaged in the "Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan" 
(PONREPP), covering 2-3 years beyond April 2009, the end of the Flash 
Appeal. The six areas of cooperation have been agreed through the TCG: 
Disaster Risk Reduction, Education, Health, Livelihood (agriculture / 
non-agriculture), and WASH. The clusters are tasked with formulating 
concept notes as the first step. To ensure participatory consultation and 
integration of cross-cutting concerns, technical working groups are being 
formed, through which line ministries will be engaged. Two senior recovery 
planning advisors have been deployed to the RC's office to provide the 
overall guidance. Several agencies have committed technical experts to aid 
the drafting of sectoral plans. The first consultation with the Government 
is scheduled for 5 November in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. It is planned that 
the PONREPP will be presented in conjunction with the ASEAN/UN summit 
scheduled to take place in mid December.

- The Revised Appeal, launched on 10 July, is 53.2% funded (US$247 million 
out of US$464 million requirements), with US$16 million in uncommitted 
pledges, according to OCHA's Financial Tracking Services (FTS) . The 
funding has increased by US$ 7 million and the pledge by US$ 4 million 
since the last reporting period. Outside the Appeal, US$148.5 million in 
funding and US$39 million in uncommitted pledges are recorded in FTS. The 
recent sectoral prioritisation at the Township identified food aid, 
agriculture, health and WASH as the priority needs. The agriculture and 
early recovery sectors however continue to be severely under-funded, at 
14% and 16% respectively.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=44AA99193BC21B12C12574DE004580C3&file=Full_Report.pdf

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