Cyclone Nargis Update

June 9, 2008

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

Current Status

Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck southwestern Myanmar (Burma) on May 2. The official death toll is 77,738, with 55,917 reported missing. The UN estimates 2.4 million people were affected, most in the Irrawaddy Delta region. About 1.3 million people have been reached by aid workers.

The UN Flash Appeal stands at US$201 million and is 41 percent covered. According to OCHA’s Financial Tracking System, US$164 million has been committed, with a further US$108 million pledged.

Aid agencies say dozens of villages in the delta have still not been reached, but logistics operations received a boost Saturday (June 7) when five helicopters arrived in Yangon (Rangoon) for World Food Program (WFP) use. The junta authorized the WFP to bring in 10 helicopters for relief operations more than two weeks ago. While one has been in use since May 22, the remaining nine had been awaiting clearance from the junta. The final four helicopters are expected to arrive later this week. The added helicopters will drastically improve delivery times, with WFP saying 26 villages will have been reached by the helicopters by the end of Tuesday (June 10). (Reuters, AFP, June 8)

There are around 50 days until the monsoon planting season ends. WFP is warning that farming households that are able to plant will need food assistance for at least six months, until the harvest in November. Those who do not have the seeds, tools or usable land for the monsoon harvest will likely need food aid for at least a year. The agency will likely need to rely on some imports for its feeding program, which it anticipates may be a challenge because the government prides itself on self-sufficiency and tightly regulates imports. (PWS&D, IRIN, June 6)

The government is denying that forced evictions are taking place, saying that it is conducting a voluntary resettlement program for victims in camps who want to return to their villages. The government is erecting temporary shelters for volunteers to return to and providing them farming equipment and one week of food rations. The junta’s comments appeared to be in response to criticism from rights groups like Amnesty International. (Reuters, AFP, June 8)

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates there are at least 2,000 orphans or children who are missing parents, but some Myanmar workers say there are 5,000 orphans in Labutta alone. Efforts to reunite children with their families are complicated because surnames are rarely used in Myanmar and many children do not know the names of their families or villages. (CSM, June 9)

As of Monday (June 9), 179 visas had been issued to UN international staff and 86 have visited affected areas. (OCHA, June 9) As of June 6, at least 328 aid flights had landed in Yangon, at a rate of about 10 to 15 a day. (UNDPI, June 6)

Impact

The death toll remains at 77,738 with 55,917 reported missing. State media reports 19,359 people are injured. The majority of deaths were reportedly caused by the 12-foot (3.5-meter) tidal wave. About 21.5 million people out of Myanmar’s 53-million population live in the five regions that were declared disaster zones – Yangon, Irrawaddy Division, Pegu (Bago) Division, Karen (Kayin) state and Mon state.

Nargis affected 2.4 million people, including about 680,000 in Yangon and 75 percent of people (1.4 million) in the Irrawaddy Delta region that includes the townships of Bogalay (Bogale), Labutta, Ngaputaw, Dedaye, Pyapon, Kyaiklat and Mawlamyinegyun.

Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry reports US$10.7 billion in losses. About 95 percent of structures in the delta were destroyed. The IFRC reports that at least 1.5 million people remain homeless there. The Asian Development Bank says at least 543,000 acres of rice paddy was covered in salt water, and 38,000 acres of fish and shrimp ponds and 152,000 acres of forest were destroyed. About 2.3 percent of Myanmar’s annual rice crop was lost. FAO says 700,000 hectares of paddy fields in the delta – about 20 percent – may need rehabilitation. About 280,000 cattle for plowing died.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Education says 4,000 schools were destroyed or damaged, affecting 500,000 children. UNICEF says children account for 40 percent of the hardest-hit population and are the most likely to die in disease outbreaks.

Response Coordination

Myanmar’s government is coordinating disaster response with the UN Resident Coordinator and the cluster system. Myanmar’s Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is in charge of national relief efforts, with the Information Management Unit (MIMU) taking the lead in information management.

Myanmar’s Deputy Foreign Minister is designated officer for relief assistance and the Ministry of Revenue and Finance is the contact point for cargo arrival. A Ministry of Health team is working out of Yangon General Hospital to coordinate health response.

The Tripartite Core Group (TCG), which has three representatives each from the junta, ASEAN and the UN, deals with access and delivery issues. The TCG-commissioned Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) teams include representatives from the government, ASEAN, the UN, the private sector and MRCS. (USAID, June 5)

Coordination hubs are in Labutta, Bogalay, Pyapon, Mawlamyinegyun and Pathein.

OCHA launched a Humanitarian Information Center (HIC) Web site for Myanmar at http://myanmar.humanitarianinfo.org, which has detailed situation reports for each cluster, and an On-Site Operations Coordination Center.

Sector Status

Logistics

The World Food Program (WFP) is the cluster lead, supported by the UNJLC. UN says there is a pressing need for funding for the logistics operation. Only US$20 million of the US$50 million required have been received. These funds are needed to extend the outreach of the operation from the hubs to those villages that have yet to receive assistance. (OCHA, June 6) The cluster is 12 percent funded in the Flash Appeal according to FTS. (OCHA, June 9)

Yangon Airport remains the primary hub. The template for all procedures is at http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a. Bangkok’s former international Don Muang Airport (DMK) is the main staging area for foreign relief with daily flights to Yangon. Air capacity is 190 MT a day. (LC, June 6) So far there have been 328 flights to Yangon, with 10 to 15 flights arriving daily. (UNDPI, June 6)

The logistics cluster is now operating a 4,000 square meter (sqm) inter-agency warehouse in Yangon, a fleet of 35 trucks with four barges with four barge pushers (total capacity = 2,650 tons), and three boats (total capacity = 1,250 MT). 1 jetty identified in Yangon. Transit time to the delta by barge is between three and six days. WFP says it has a fleet of some 30 boats to help with deliveries in the delta. (IRIN, June 3) Smaller boats with a capacity of 1-5 MTs are being sought for use in the delta. (LC, June 5)

The first WFP helicopter, which arrived in Yangon on May 22, began deliveries to the delta on June 2. Only seven government helicopters are operating in the delta. (AP, June 3) An additional five helicopters landed in Yangon on Saturday (June 7). An MI8 MTV completed 4 rotations from Labutta delivering UNICEF shelter materials and WFP pulses to Ah Mat Gyi ,Kwa Kwa lay,Kwin Thone Fint, Twe Pin Kaing. Three other helicopters (2 MI8 MTVs and 1 Puma) operated from Bogalay delivering rice and HEBs from WFP and mosquito nets from UNICEF to Yoe Kone and Seik Ma (West). (OCHA, June 9) Remaining four in Bangkok to come in as soon as approval is received. (LC, June 7)

A total of 1,925.23 MT of cargo, including 1,334MT of food, have been dispatched by the cluster from May 20 to June 9. (LC, June 9)

Boats are loading in Yangon for Bogalay, Pathein, and for Mawlanyaingyun. (LC, June 9)

The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) coordinated by the TCG was launched Monday (June 9). The assessment involves humanitarian needs and damage components: a Village Tract Assessment (VTA) and a Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA), for which field surveys in the 30 affected townships are planned between June 10-19. (OCHA, June 9)

UN agencies report no major issues with obtaining visas for their staff, with 179 visas issued as of June 9. National and international UN staff have been travelling to the Irrawaddy Delta in increasing numbers with government approval; 86 international UN staff have visited the affected-areas as of June 9. International NGOs are experiencing greater difficulties in entering the country. Some NGOs report problems in accessing affected areas. (OCHA, June 9)

Logistics hubs storage updates:

Mawlanyaingyun: 2,000 tons available in MAPT w/h.

Labutta: 7 Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) 1,120 sqm. (240sqm for UNICEF, 560 for WFP, 380 available)

Pathein: 1200 sqm under negotiation.

Pyapon: 2 MSUs up. Easily accessible by truck. 1,680 sqm operational. 240 sqm dedicated to CARE and 480 sqm under construction.

Bogalay: 2 MSUs up. 1,200 sqm operational. (240 sqm dedicated to UNICEF, 240 to WFP and 240 to IOM.) 720 sqm under construction.

The cluster has 16 operational warehouses and 14 additional warehouses are expected to become operational in the coming weeks. (UN, June 3)

World Vision reported the following traveling times:

Yangon – Kyaiklat: 3 hours by road

Yangon – Bogalay: 4.5 hours by road

Yangon – Pyapon: 3.5 hours by road

Pyapon –Mawlamyinegyun: 1.5 hours from Pyapon by river by boat

Food

WFP appealed for US$69.5 million to provide a complete food basket to 750,000 people, for a total of 380 MT a day, but now estimates that 1.5 million require food assistance. (IRIN, June 3). So far WFP has US$21.3 million, including US$5 million from the CERF, and has fed 575,000 people with a two-week ration of rice. WFP requires US$41.4 million for its immediate emergency food assistance program. The funding requirement is urgent as the imminent importation of food commodities is likely to double the cost of providing food assistance. The cluster is 21 percent funded in the Flash Appeal, according to the FTS. (OCHA, June 9)

The UN says that survivors in the delta are likely to need food assistance for as long as a year. (IRIN, June 9)

Total food distributed by all partners in May was 5,206 MT. WFP and its implementing partners have distributed 5,816 MT of food to the affected areas to date. WFP is distributing cash in lieu of food in certain areas. 16,448 beneficiaries have received a cash allocation. (OCHA, June 9)

WFP initially planned to procure food commodities locally to the extent possible and then import commodities to avoid disruption to local markets. The Government has now agreed to permit importation of rice, despite being initially opposed. (OCHA, June 9)

The food cluster is providing support to the PONJA with data collection and analysis capacity as well as logistical support. Food prices are observed to have risen, due to scarcity of commodities, in townships that have been visited. (OCHA, June 9)

Food commodities catering to children under five years of age is a continuing gap in the food response. The food cluster is working with the nutrition cluster to consider local production. (OCHA, June 9)

WFP expects a pipeline break by the end of July due to two factors: 1) Resource availability. WFP received confirmation for about 35 percent or US$25 million in contribution against the total requirement of US$70 million. Although it forecasts that 60 percent will be covered eventually, the immediate availability of cash may be a problem. 2) In-country availability of rice. The total requirement for the 6-month operation is 46,500 tons, WFP would likely need to import up to half of this to source without undue impact on the domestic market. Delay or denial by the GoM will result in a pipeline break. (OCHA, June 4)

WFP says that along with its partners, it can distribute some 400 MT of food a day. (IRIN, June 3) The Cluster estimates the monthly food requirement at 8,933 tons. WFP plans to cover 11 townships in Irrawaddy and eight in Yangon. WFP has two sub-offices in Labutta and Bogalay.

WFP emergency food assistance rations are composed of 400g of rice, 100g of pulses, 30g of vegetable oil and 5g of iodized salt per day per person. The monthly food basket for a family of five has 60 kg of rice, 15 kg of pulses, 4.5 kg of oil and .75 kg of iodizes salt.

Shelter

UNHCR leads the shelter cluster and is supporting the IFRC, which was designated the in-country cluster lead. UNHCR is asking for US$6 million from the Flash Appeal to help 250,000 people with shelter materials within the next six weeks. The cluster has so far received funds of US$14,750,000 from the UN Flash Appeal and IFRC Appeal. (OCHA, June 4)

There is an urgent need for substantial amounts of tarpaulins, given that stocks in the country have been depleted. (OCHA, June 6)

IFRC said at least 1.5 million people remain homeless in the delta. The UN estimates that until recently around 260,000 people had been in temporary camps in 14 townships. (IRIN, June 3) There have been reports of the government evicting people from some camps. According to state media, Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein denied reports of forced relocation and said the government will support people living in relief camps and provide assistance for voluntary returns or resettlement. (OCHA, June 9)

Population movements in IDP locations are still very fluid. Smaller camps are reportedly merging to be seen as a smaller number of larger camps in Labutta. (OCHA, June 9)

Shelter kits have been renamed: Family kit is now called Relief kit. Shelter kit is now Tarp Kit and Hamlet kit is now Community tool kit. The cluster has standardized three types of kits. The first is a tool for a group of 10 or more households. The second is a basic building material kit, one per household. The third is a Non-Food Items (NFI) kit. 102,000 Household Tarp Kits, 13,000 Community Tool Kits and 6,300 Household Relief Kits have been distributed so far. (OCHA, June 4)

Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) leads the health cluster, which comprises 22 international NGOs and UN agencies. Merlin is cluster co-lead. Cluster projects amount to US$4 million. WHO is calling for US$28 million to fund a six-month action plan to rebuild the health care system. At least 50 percent of health structures were damaged or destroyed. The Health cluster is 77 percent funded in the Flash Appeal. (OCHA, June 9)

Cluster sub-groups have been formed on HIV/AIDS, Early Recovery and psychosocial support. The cluster has established three operations centers in Pathein, Labutta and Bogalay. WHO launched the Early Warning Disease Surveillance System known as the Early Warning Reporting System (EWARS).

The cluster and the MoH will conduct assessments of psychosocial distress in the six most affected townships. (WHO, June 6)

Between May and July, IOM plans to provide emergency medical services through mobile medical teams, medicines, medical equipment and supplies in Bogalay, Malamnyine Kyune and Pyapon. (OCHA, June 9)

HelpAge International (HAI) is working with local NGO YMCA to provide health services in Kyiaklat township. Services will be extended to Mawlamyinegyun, Dedaye township from June 10. (OCHA, June 9)

IFRC is recruiting 40 health/hygiene officers to work with the Myanmar Red Cross (MRCS) from mid-June onwards. (OCHA, June 9)

Community-based first aid refresher training for 216 MRCS volunteers from the Irrawaddy and Yangon divisions continues. The main focus of the training is safe water and sanitation, prevention of communicable diseases and psychosocial support. (OCHA, June 9)

Three joint Ministry of Health/WHO mobile health teams will undertake a one-week mission this week Laputta, Ngaputaw and Bogolay to trace TB patients with interrupted treatment and provide general non-TB curative and public health services. Nine sub-teams will visit camps and villages. Patient-tracing teams will be sent out to trace patients the following week. WHO will assist with data compilation and analysis and convene a TB working group week beginning 16 June. (OCHA, June 9)

An action plan for dengue prevention and control in cyclone-affected areas has been developed by WHO and the DoH. (OCHA, June 9)

International medical teams have been deployed as follows: China-Kungyangon; Thailand (two teams) – Mawlamyinegyun; Bangladesh – Wakema; India – Bogalay and Pyapon; Singapore- Twantay; Philippines- Pathein; Japan- Labutta; Indonesia - Kawhmu. Medical teams from more than 70 countries are expected to arrive in the next 3-6 months.

The Health Cluster Joint Plan of Action objectives are: Assess and monitor health needs and strengthen disease surveillance; Respond to outbreaks and other health threats, strengthen disease control and fill critical health care gaps; Strengthen and repair systems and build capacity; Engage partners to coordinate a joint health sector response. (OCHA, June 2)

Nutrition

About one-third of Myanmar’s children are malnourished, including 30,000 under five who were acutely malnourished before Nargis. Save the Children says several thousand may die in the next two weeks due to a lack of food. UNICEF found in 2003 40 percent under five were chronically malnourished and ten percent were acutely malnourished. (IFRC, June 5)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

UNICEF leads the cluster and is appealing for US$8.2 million. The cluster is 115 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 4)

There were 27 mobile water treatment plants as of May 26 with the capacity to provide clean water for 1 million people, according to WHO. 10 water treatment units have been deployed in the Delta region. A total of 50 units are now in-country. Training of local staff on use of the units is ongoing in Yangon. (OCHA, June 9)

The working figure of affected population is still 2.4 million. Cluster agreed to revise the figure after the release of the VTA results. Cooperation with the local authorities in the assessment of damaged infrastructures (ponds) is generally good. (OCHA, June 9)

Scarce information about population movements makes systematic provision of service difficult. Progress with sanitation is relatively slow in villages due to technical difficulties (high water table) and prevailing cultural practices (pre-cyclone sanitation coverage was 25%). (OCHA, June 9)

There is an urgent need for skilled personnel (technicians for the water treatment plants, hydro-geologists, hygiene promoters, sanitation engineers) in affected areas for prolonged periods to establish systematic operations. (OCHA, June 9)

The Cluster has finalized a 4-month initial response plan based on an assumption of 1.5 million affected people. The cluster’s goal is to provide three liters of drinking water and 10 liters of bathing and general purpose water per person per day, availability of soap for everyone, and 1 community trained hygiene promoter per 2,000 people. Within the first 60 days, it hopes to have one toilet per 100 people, with an eventual goal of one per 20. (OCHA, June 4)

Agencies have agreed to be WASH cluster focal points for each township. Irrawaddy Division: Bogalay (GAA), Dedaye (CESVI), Kyaiklat (MRCS/IFRC), Labutta (Merlin), Mawlamyinegyun (SC), Pyapon (CDA). Yangon Divison: Dala (AMI), Dagon (WV), Khawmu (UNICEF), Kungyangon (CDA), Seikgyikanaungto (AMI), Kyauktan (CDA), Hlaingtharyar (WV), Twantay (AMI).

Agriculture

The Flash Appeal includes US$10 million for agriculture. FAO was granted US$2 million from CERF for restoring food security in affected areas. The government estimates the costs of rehabilitation at US$243 million for agriculture and US$25 million for livestock. Donors have so far offered US$20 million in aid. (Reuters, June 4) The cluster is currently 31 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 6)

WFP says most farmers are still at least six months away from replacing their food stocks. WFP says it may have to import some food. (OCHA, June 9)

PWS&D says that there are around 50 days left before the monsoon planting season ends. (PWS&D, June 6)

FAO says cyclone affected 60 percent of the 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres) of rice paddy in the five disaster areas, but only 16 percent was seriously damaged. (Reuters, June 4)

Nargis destroyed about 2.3 percent of Myanmar’s annual rice production and threatens to disrupt the main November harvest in the rice-bowl delta if planting is not finished by the end of July. FAO says there are enough seeds for planting, but fertilizer and tools are still needed. About 20 percent of the delta’s paddy land may need rehabilitation and pumps for flushing out sea water.

FAO launched a Web site offering data on agriculture in Myanmar.

Link: http://www.fao.org/nr/myanmar/myan-home_en.htm

Protection of children and women

UNICEF and Save the Children (SC) lead the protection cluster. The cluster is currently 25 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 6)

A Cluster response plan is being finalized, but so far emphasis has been on registering separated children with the hope of finding their families and providing family/community care rather than sending children to orphanages. Other priority issues include the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and secondary separations – adolescents leaving their families to look for work.

UNICEF says there are at least 2,000 orphans or are missing parents. CSM says that a lack of surnames is complicating efforts to reunite families. (CSM, June 9)

Cluster teams are currently in Labutta, Bogalay, Myaung Mya, Pyapon, Ngapudaw, Dedaye and Kyaiklat collecting data, registering unaccompanied and separated children, undertaking family tracing, placing children with families, and setting up Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) and Watch Groups. (OCHA, June 4)

In Yangon Division, a total of 50 CFS are functioning, and in Irrawaddy Division a total of 17 CFS are functioning. Some CFS previously set up have now been closed down due to the evacuation and closure of some temporary settlements. (OCHA, June 6)

Agencies have assumed Cluster focal point responsibilities: Labutta (UNICEF); Bogalay & Piyapon (World Vision); Pathein & Malamyinegyung (SC). Child Focus Network is the national NGO focal point.

Education

UNICEF leads the education cluster. The education cluster is currently 0 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 6)

Education is highly valued in Myanmar society and UNICEF says 85 percent of education buildings in affected areas were damaged or destroyed, including 4,000 basic schools, affecting 1.1 million children.

While most schools reopened June 2, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are working to reopen others in worst affected areas by July. UNICEF and MoE have been distributing school construction kits, school supplies and learning materials. UNICEF is also distributing early child development kits and supporting reading initiatives for kids who are not in school. MoE says there is a surplus of teachers.

Telecommunication

The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is currently reviewing its funding requirements. The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is 73% funded in the Flash Appeal. (OCHA, June 9)

WFP and UNICEF provide technical support to the humanitarian community in Bangkok and Yangon, and in sub-offices and logistics centers in Labutta, Bogalay, Pyapon Mawlamgyun, and Pathein. UNICEF installed an IPSTAR system in Labutta. Training of local ICT assistants continues. (OCHA, June 4) ETC repeater channel plan for delta completed. (OCHA, June 6)

Emergency telecommunications equipment is currently being held at customs. Although release of the equipment has now been approved by the Government, finalization of the clearance is pending. Restrictions on official import of telecommunications equipment remain in place. Although the use of telecommunications equipment is prohibited in the Delta, some verbal approvals have been given in Labutta and Bogalay. (OCHA, June 9)

Myanmar’s government bans the import of communications equipment, but has offered to sell CDMA SIM cards and phones at a high price to responders with a limit of 10 per agency.

Early Recovery

UNDP leads the early recovery cluster. The Flash Appeal includes US$4.8 million for Early Recovery. The cluster is currently 5 percent funded. (OCHA, June 4)

The government has started health infrastructure rehabilitation under which health centers are being repaired with the help of local corporations. Most rural primary health centers have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt. All township hospitals have survived and are being repaired. (WHO, June 9)

The IFRC is coordinating a technical working group on early recovery strategy. The cluster’s strategy focuses on organizing monsoon planting assistance for delta farming communities and providing a long-term recovery plan to begin within six weeks.

Country Profile

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has a population of about 53 million and has been ruled by a succession of military juntas since 1962. It is one of Asia's poorest nations. The current junta, ruling since 1988, has isolated the country from the outside world. The capital city, Naypyidaw, is located about 240 miles (390 km) north of Yangon.

Government Response

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement heads national relief efforts, coordinated with the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee (NDPCC) headed by Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, who visited cyclone-affected areas by helicopter June 7-9. (OCHA, June 9)

The junta seeks US$11.7 billion in aid. State media reports that the government has spent more than US$45.5 million (50 billion MMK) on relief operations, has finished the emergency response phase and is now in the reconstruction phase.

The Emergency Supply Supervisory Committee is working with UN agencies and INGOs to ensure all relief funds and supplies go to storm victims.

A government medical team is operating the Taing Aye floating hospital in Bogalay. (GoM, June 7)

The government says it is conducting a voluntary resettlement program, erecting shelters for victims in relief camps who want to return to their villages, and providing them farming equipment and one week’s worth of food. (Reuters, June8)

National Response

The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) has more than 27,000 volunteers distributing the bulk of IFRC supplies. MRCS has reached a total of 228,000 beneficiaries, 190,000 of them in Irrawaddy Division. (OCHA, June 6)

Metta, a national NGO with 42 staff and 115 volunteers in the delta, is providing medical teams, teachers, shelter supplies and other items to 115,000 people.

Under the Myanmar Medical Association, local doctors are providing treatment to several villages in Kawhmu, Dedaye and North Okkalapa. (OCHA, June 4)

Methodist Church of Lower Myanmar is providing water, food, medicine and shelter.

Knowledge and Dedication for the Nation (KDN), Pact Myanmar and Myanmar Egress are delivering food in partnership with Action Aid.

International Response

United Nations

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said he is not satisfied with the current level of accessibility in Myanmar. Although there has been a significant improvement, he said it is important that relief workers be stationed in the country for longer periods of time. (UNDPI, June 6)

As of June 9, 179 visas were issued to UN international staff. UN staff have been travelling to the delta in increasing numbers with government approval; 86 international UN staff have visited the affected-areas as of June 9. (OCHA, June 9)

The UNDAC mission to Myanmar officially ended May 22. (OCHA, May 22)

The UN Flash Appeal requests US$201 million to support survivors for at least six months. The appeal is 41 percent covered. As of June 9, a total of US$164 million has been committed, with a further US$108 million pledged. (UN, June 9) Out of this, US $82.5 million is for projects outlined in the Flash Appeal. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) contributed US$22.4 million to the Flash Appeal.

A United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) with assistance from the IASC developed the cluster system.

The UN Development Program (UNDP) leads the early recovery cluster. UNDP and its implementing partner, PACT, have 19 field offices and some 500 staff stationed in the delta. DFID has pledged US$2 million for UNDP’s cash-for-work scheme, which is under way in parts of the delta. (UNDP, June 6)

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) leads three clusters: water/sanitation, education and protection and has launched an initial appeal for US$8.2 million. UNICEF has 130 local workers and 17 foreigners. There are four mobile UNICEF teams in six delta townships and seven teams in 17 Yangon townships.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) supports the IFRC, the in-country lead for the shelter cluster. UNHCR seeks US$6 million from the Flash Appeal to help 250,000 people with temporary shelter. UNHCR is opening two field units in Labutta and Bogalay. It had airlifted and trucked in more than 430 tons of relief items as of June 6.

The World Food Program (WFP) leads the logistics cluster and says it may be present in the delta for up to a year. It is appealing for US$69.5 million to deliver a complete food basket to 750,000 people, but the appeal is only a third covered. Its logistics operation also faces a shortfall of US$32 million. WFP says it has over 40 international staff in-country as well as 220 local staff. WFP has field offices in Labutta and Bogalay. Myanmar is allowing 10 WFP helicopters to deliver aid and six are now in-country. The remaining four are set to arrive later this week. WFP and partners have so far delivered 11,046 tons of food and distributed 5,816 MT. About 16,500 people have received WFP’s cash allocations. (OCHA, June 9)

The World Health Organization (WHO), present in all affected areas, is leading the Health Cluster and appealing for US$28 million for a six-month action plan to rebuild the health care system. The CERF has allotted US$4 million for the Health Cluster. WHO has set up a disease surveillance system. WHO Deputy Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh is heading emergency operations.

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) leads the agricultural cluster and is allowed to move freely in-country with permission from the Ministry of Livestock.

UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) is working on supply storage and transportation.

NGOs / IOs

ActionAid plans a three-month relief program to reach 136,500 people in the delta through local NGOs. It has allocated US$1.35 million and has so far spent US$178,000.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) has appealed for more than US$5 million to help up to 1.3 million survivors and has so far helped 100,000. (ACT, May 28)

Action Contre la Faim/Action Against Hunger (ACF) has flown in more than 40 tons of WASH materials and delivered rice, water purification equipment and technical expertise to Bogalay. ACF has 22 international and over 300 national staff.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) is committing US$265,000. ADRA is distributing US$130,000 in medical supplies, plus water purification systems, hygiene kits, shelter materials and clothing. (ADRA, June 4)

Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) opened a mobile clinic in Yangon’s Kungyangon township in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

American Red Cross (ARC) has made available US$250,000 in relief supplies and has committed US$1.25 million for the relief effort. (ARC, May 11)

Australian Aid International plans to set up mobile clinics in the delta, but its personnel are still awaiting visas. (AAI, May 29)

Baptist World Aid (BWAid) has a relief team in Myanmar. (BWAid, May 15)

The British Red Cross (BRC) has reached at least 100,000 people with shelter supplies and has at least 21 workers in-country. (BRC, May 27)

CARE has 500 staff and offices in 11 of Myanmar’s 14 states. CARE provided water, food and emergency supplies to 120,000 people in 12 delta areas. (CARE, May 29)

Caritas Internationalis is appealing for US$8.2 million for the next three months. Through local Catholic Church partners, Caritas has delivered supplies to over 70,000 people in Pathein and Yangon. (Caritas, May 29) Caritas has 162 national members.

Christian Aid is distributing water purification tablets, blankets and medicines to 100,000 people. CA has committed US$98,000 (50,000 GBP) for local partners.

Concern Worldwide has two emergency response team members in-country and will distribute supplies through local and UN agencies.

Emergency Assistance Team (EAT-BURMA) is working through local organizations to deliver food, water, cooking equipment, shelter, clothing and health care.

European Commission - Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) representative in the Yangon office is coordinating the humanitarian response with partners. (ECHO, May 7)

Gates Foundation donated US$3 million, US$1 million each to Save the Children, CARE and World Vision.

Global Refugee International hopes to have 50,000 to 70,000 people on the ground for the next three months.

HelpAge International has six mobile medical units and has delivered relief supplies through local partners to 6,000 people. (HelpAge, May 30)

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has six foreign and 90 local staff in Myanmar. ICRC is providing shelter, household items, food, water and drugs. Its budget is US$1.9 million (2 million Swiss francs). (ICRC, May 7)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) leads the shelter cluster with UNHCR. Its appeal for US$50.8 million (52.9 million CHF) to assist 100,000 families for three years is 94 percent covered.

International Medical Corps (IMC) distributes medicine, hygiene kits and water purification tablets through a local partner and is awaiting visas to enter Myanmar.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) had 200 staff already in the area. Its focus is emergency health interventions for three to six months. Four medical teams are working in Bogalay, where IOM has a sub-office. IOM is appealing for US$8 million.

International Rescue Committee (IRC) with MRCS is distributing equipment this week to provide 100,000 people drinking water for one month. It is also giving medicines to clinics and hospitals. (IRC, June 3)

Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) is distributing relief and health items. Through IFRC, MRCS will deploy 10 medical, relief and logistics personnel.

Malteser International has about 200 staff on the ground. An international team will expand relief efforts in Labutta. Malteser has made several cargo flights to Yangon.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) is distributing food, plastic sheeting and water containers in the delta, where it has 201 staff, including 10 international, and 28 medical teams. Staff have done more than 17,000 consultations and plan to average 500 a day over the next three months. (MSF, IRIN, June 4)

Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin) has 500 staff operating mobile clinics in Labutta and bringing health care to the delta by boat. It is co-chairing the WHO’s US$28 million plan to rebuild the health care system. (Merlin, June 3)

Medical Teams International (MTI)’s senior humanitarian aid expert arrived on May 30 to help the Sri Lankan medical team.

Mercy Corps (MC) director and three staff are in-country. MC has sent a fleet of barges into the delta with supplies for a cash-for-work recovery program. (AP, MC, June 3)

MERCY Malaysia sent a four-member relief team to Yangon and received US$1.1 million in donations. (MC, June 2)

Muslim Aid is working with partners to provide clean water, medicine and healthcare.

Oxfam International gave US$1.2 million and is working through local partner Metta to provide clean water, shelter and supplies to 185,000 survivors. (Oxfam, June 3).

Plan launched an appeal and set up a US$1 million fund. Through local partners it is providing health supplies. (Plan, June 2)

Project HOPE has offered medical supplies and is working with agencies on the ground to determine priority medical needs, obtain donations and deliver aid.

Relief International (RI) has established an office in Yangon. (RI, May 11)

Samaritan’s Purse has airlifted 45 MT of supplies and a team of disaster response experts into Myanmar. (SP, June 3)

Save the Children (SC) and UNICEF lead the Education Cluster. SC is seeking US$28 million and has reached 208,000 people with food, water, shelter and rehydration supplies. SC has 500 staff members in Myanmar. (SC, May 28)

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation, a UAE charity, gave US$1 million to support UNDP’s early recovery activities in the delta. (UNDP, May 29)

Tearfund has provided shelter, food and clean water to 100,000 people through a network of churches. It has committed US$296,000 (£150,000). (Tearfund, June 3)

Telecoms Sans Frontieres team arrived in Yangon on June 1 to assess telecommunications infrastructure and needs. (TSF, June 3)

Trócaire launched a US$1.5 million (1 million Euro) program providing food, shelter and health care to 60,000 people through local partners in Pathein and Yangon.

Tzu Chi Foundation has volunteers from Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan in Myanmar. Food, clothes and hygiene items have been distributed to 13,000. (Tzu Chi, May 28)

Welthungerhilfe has 150 local employees distributing food and supplies. It has donated US$773,000 (500,000 Euros). (Welthungerhilfe, May 23)

World Emergency Relief’s is shipping in supplies distributed by local partners.

World Vision (WV) has 580 permanent staff in Myanmar and 18 international staff were granted visas. WV has helped 250,000 people and distributed rice, oil and other relief supplies. WV appealed for US$3 million to help up to 500,000 people. (WV, June 2)

Foreign Governments

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) co-chairs the TCG and is leading a comprehensive joint assessment due in mid-July.

Australia provided US$24 million. The Air Force loaned the WFP two helicopters.

Bangladesh sent food, clothes, medicine, water purification tablets, oral saline and a five-member military team. A 33-medic team is in Wakema.

Belgium provided US$389,408. (UN, May 20)

Canada set aside up to US$2 million and sent five helicopters to assist WFP aid delivery. Canada said it would lend a C-17 cargo lifter, to make deliveries for the UN.

China has offered US$11 million in aid to Myanmar. (AP, May 25)

Denmark has indicated a donation of US$2.1 million. (OCHA, May 6)

European Community has offered US$99.3 million. (AP, May 25)

The European Union (EU) will give US$3.1 million (2 million Euros) in fast-track aid. Three humanitarian experts have deployed to support the Commission’s team.

Finland provided US$467,290 in aid. (OCHA, May 13)

France has pledged US$3.1 million (2 million Euros) in aid.

Germany pledged US$6.3 million. Five aid workers are in the delta. Three German aid flights have landed in Yangon. (GoG, May 26)

Greece has sent two aircraft and pledged about US$300,000. (GoG, May 12)

Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) gave US$5.63 million.

India has 47 medics and relief experts in Bogalay and Pyapon.

Indonesia pledged US$1 million and has a 30-member health team on the ground.

Italy delivered shelter supplies valued at US$240,000 and has given US$191,000 (123,000 Euros) to the IFRC and US$775,000 to the FAO. (GoI, May 29)

Japan has pledged US$12.7 million. A 23-member medical team left Labutta after establishing a temporary clinic and treating 1,300 patients. (DPA, June 8)

Laos dispatched 2.5 tons of food and water.

Malaysia contributed US$1 million to Myanmar and sent blankets, clothing, food, medicine, tents and water. (GoM, May 16)

The Netherlands has made available US$1.55 million (1 million Euros). (GoN, May 6)

New Zealand gave US$1.1 million (1.5 million NZD) via aid agencies and the UN.

Norway offered US$20 million.

The Philippines pledged US$20 million and sent a 30-member medical team with supplies.

Russia has provided US$2.1 million in aid and has sent more than 30 tons of supplies.

Saudi Arabia delivered 143.2 tons of food and shelter supplies on two flights.

Singapore dispatched US$200,000 in relief items. A medical team is in Yangon.

South Korea has pledged at least US$2.5 million and a 30-member medical team is in-country. (OCHA, June 6)

Spain has donated about US$775,000 (500,000 Euros) to the WFP and flown in water, shelter and health supplies. (Reuters, May 7)

Sri Lanka sent 20 tons of relief items and a medical team.

Sweden has provided US$582,363 and at least one aid flight. (GoM, May 31).

Switzerland released US$475,000 (500,000 CHF).

Taiwan has pledged US$200,000 in emergency relief aid. (OCHA, May 13)

Thailand has donated US$12.3 million in goods and cash, has sent at least 19 relief flights and two medical teams. (GoT, June 6)

Turkey has provided US$1 million in humanitarian assistance. (OCHA, May 13)

Vietnam is providing US$200,000 in emergency aid.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided US$1.75 million and flown in supplies.

The United Kingdom pledged US$33.3 million (17 million GBP). Department for International Development (DFID) flights have delivered shelter supplies. A DFID emergency response team is in-country.

The United States has provided US$35.3 million through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Defense. More than 116 US military airlifts have delivered more than 2.2 million lbs. of supplies. The leader of the Disaster Assistance Response Team is in Yangon, but the team remains in Thailand.