Cyclone Nargis Update

May 6, 2008

 

 

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

 

Current Status

 

Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck southwestern Myanmar (Burma) at around 16:00 Friday (May 2) local time, packing sustained winds of 120 mph (190 kph). Myanmar's official state-run media reported the death toll Tuesday (May 6) at 22,464 people, with 41,000 missing. The UN World Food Program (WFP) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) estimate that more than 1 million people were made homeless by the storm. (IHT, May 6) The country's main city and former capital, Yangon (Rangoon), was devastated by the storm. Nargis is being called the worst cyclone to hit Asia since a 1991 storm killed 143,000 people in Bangladesh. (Reuters, May 6) Myanmar's minister of relief and resettlement, Maung Maung Swe, said more deaths were caused by the 12-foot (3.5-meter) tidal wave that hit the coastline than by the storm itself. (IHT, May 6)

 

Nargis touched down in Irrawaddy Division, about 155 miles (250 km) southwest of Yangon. The Irrawaddy delta is the country's major rice-producing area and officials anticipate extensive damage to crops. After making landfall, the storm passed directly over Yangon late Friday night local time, causing widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructures. It then tracked toward the northeast on Saturday (May 3), skirting northwestern Thailand before dissipating in Myanmar's Kayin (Karen) state. Yangon, Irrawaddy Division, Bago (Pegu) Division, Kayin (Karen) state and Mon state have all been declared disaster zones. Twenty-four million of the country's 53 million people live in those five regions. Some 6 million live in Yangon.

 

Myanmar's government has said that it will welcome international aid. A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team has been dispatched and members were assembling and meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday (May 5). The team is prepared to leave for Yangon, but is waiting for Myanmar to approve members' visa applications. (UN, May 6) Due to blocked roads, flooding and downed communication and electricity lines, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says it is difficult to assess the extent of damages, especially outside of Yangon.

 

According to a Reuters tally, so far more than US$10 million has been pledged in response to Nargis, including US$3.1 million from the European Commission and US$2 million from the government of Canada. The UN says that it appears at this stage that the assistance envisaged is primarily bilateral, with aid going directly to the government relief agencies. Visa approval has so far been the key hold-up for aid agencies trying to gain access to Myanmar, according to the UN. UN coordinators are currently discussing the situation with Myanmar officials. The government's Ministry of Social Welfare has said it may relax some customs regulations to make it easier for relief stocks to enter the country. (IHT, May 6) Myanmar's government has so far pledged about US$5 million for disaster response. (UNOCHA, May 5)

 

Plastic sheeting, water purification tables, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits, food and fuel remain urgent needs.

 

Authorities are concerned over profiteering in the aftermath of the storm, with prices of food, fuel and building supplies already having risen about 300 percent, according to the Associated Press. The government urged business owners Tuesday "not to cash in on the disaster," the International Herald Tribune reported.

 

Myanmar officials said Tuesday that a constitutional referendum scheduled for Saturday (May 10) will be postponed for two weeks in hard-hit areas. Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The junta has refused to allow international observers to monitor the election and many analysts and opposition members have dismissed the document as a sham designed to entrench military rule. The worst-affected Irrawaddy Delta is home to widespread repressed opposition of the junta and analysts say new anger over what residents say was a lack of preparation and warning ahead of the cyclone may intensify anti-junta sentiments in the region. (AP, May 6)

 

 

Impact

 

Monday's death toll had been reported at 3,934 but aid workers and officials are beginning to gain access to some of the devastated rural areas and by Monday (May 5), the official toll was 22,464 dead. The government also reports that about 41,000 people are missing. About 24 million of Myanmar's 53-million population lives in the five regions that have been declared disaster zones - Yangon city, Irrawaddy Division, Bago (Pegu) Division, Kayin (Karen) state and Mon state.

 

According to the government, 21,793 of the dead and 40,695 of the missing are from the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region where the storm touched down. The delta's population is around 6 million. In the Irrawaddy town of Bogalay, about 90 miles southwest of Yangon, an estimated 10,000 people died. According to the government, at least 57 ships sunk in the Irrawaddy River and dozens of smaller boats were also lost.

 

The WFP and IFRC estimate that more than 1 million people are without shelter or safe drinking water due to the storm. The government has not released official estimates of the number of displaced.

 

Thousands of people in Yangon, a city of about 6 million, are reportedly camping out in government school buildings. The city's one airport remains closed because of damage and flooding. The government has said about 98,000 people were made homeless on Haing Gyi island in the Irrawaddy Delta. Moving inland along the delta, several sources reported that 95 percent of homes were estimated to have been destroyed.

 

Electricity and communication lines were taken out in the storm and UNOCHA says it will be several days before either are repaired.

 

Officials say an insufficient supply of potable water will be a major problem as very little running water is available in Yangon. Aid agencies fear the widespread destruction could yield epidemics of food- and water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, as well as hinder efforts to fight tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases that require frequent vaccination and medication. The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) says damage to health facilities and loss or displacement of health care workers pose another major problem for access to health services. (WHO, May 6)

 

 

The IFRC, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and the NGO Christian Aid said their staffs were able to warn many people ahead of the storm. Warnings also ran on state-run television and in local newspapers, although local media say many people have access to neither.

 

Despite initial fears, neighboring Bangladesh was not affected by Nargis. India experienced heavy rains in its eastern coastal states as the storm formed in the Bay of Bengal. Thailand reported five districts in Tak province along the border have encountered serious flooding conditions from continuous heavy rains. More than 100 houses have been inundated and over 1,000 left homeless.

 

 

Background

 

Cyclone season is the Bay of Bengal typically runs from May through November. Nargis was the first cyclone to hit the Bay since category-4 Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh on November 15, killing nearly 3,400 people and devastating the southeastern coastline. In May 2004, the junta made a rare request for assistance after a cyclone hit Rakhine state, killing at least 140 people and displacing around 18,000 others. Some casualty estimates put the death toll for the 2004 storm at more than 1,000. It was reportedly the worst storm to hit Rakhine since 1968 and carried sustained winds up to 100 mph.

 

 

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, making it difficult at times to extract information about events taking place in the country. The capital city, Naypyidaw, is located about 240 miles (390 km) north of Yangon.

 

Many Western nations have imposed sanctions on Myanmar in protest of its alleged human rights abuses and a crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests in September 2007 in which at least 31 people were killed. Myanmar receives far less foreign aid - about $US2.50 per capita - than regional neighbors Cambodia ($47) and Laos ($63) and below the $14 average for low-income nations, according to Reuters.

 

 

Government Response

 

Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win has said his country will welcome international aid. The government itself has pledged about US$5 million in relief funds so far.

 

Military and police units have been deployed as part of rescue and relief operations

 

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is coordinating the response to the disaster. An Emergency Committee has been established, headed by the prime minister. The committee has declared Yangon, Irrawaddy Division, Bago (Pegu) Division, Kayin (Karen) state and Mon state all disaster zones. The committee has also mobilized military and police units for rescue, rehabilitation and clean-up operations in the Yangon area.

 

Myanmar's Minister of Information, Kyaw Hsan, said Tuesday in a press conference that the government is trying to stem profiteering as prices of food, fuel and building materials soared in Nargis' aftermath. "We appeal to entrepreneurs and businessmen not to cash in on the disaster," the International Herald Tribune quoted him as saying.

 

 

National Response

 

Myanmar's Red Cross planned to dispatch five assessment teams Monday to Yangon, Irrawaddy, Bago East, Bago West, Mon and Kayin. The agency is distributing 5,000 liters (1,321 gallons) of drinking water to schools and pagodas where people have sought temporary shelter in Yangon.

 

 

International Response

 

United Nations

 

A five-member UNDAC team, led by Eliane Provo Kluit from OCHA, has been dispatched and is convening in Bangkok. The team is making plans for a relief operation in Myanmar, and is ready to deploy to Yangon, but is now awaiting approval of its visa applications. The consideration of a Flash appeal and allocations from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund are the top priorities.

 

A United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) with assistance from an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) developed a cluster system for the Myanmar relief effort on Monday (May 5): The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) leads the water/sanitation, education and protection clusters. The World Health Organization (WHO) leads the health cluster. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) heads the shelter cluster. The World Food Program (WFP) heads the logistics cluster. The UN Development Program (UNDP) heads the early recovery cluster. The telecommunications cluster has not yet been assigned a leader. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has offered to lead an agricultural cluster, but initially will assist food security efforts. The IASC has already carried out initial preparedness and coordination activities and hopes that the cluster system will facilitate the preparation of a Flash appeal, should one be needed. The IASC met with UN agencies and major NGOs Tuesday for further coordination.

 

UNICEF is deploying five teams Monday to assess damages in Yangon, Pathein (the capital of Irrawaddy Division) and Bago. UNICEF has water, school, nutrition and medical kits prepared for delivery.

 

The UNHCR is providing some relief materials. UNHCR has some workers on the ground in Myanmar.

 

The WFP has 500 metric tons of food stored in Yangon that it plans to distribute, along with generators stored in Cambodia. It hopes to fly in additional relief stocks within the next 48 hours.

 

The WHO is ready to provide medical kits. Because the UNDAC team has not yet been given access to the country, WHO has ordered its in-country polio surveillance network team to begin initial assessments. WHO has opened a temporary crisis health center in its Yangon office. The agency estimates it will need US$1 million to address initial health concerns in the coming days. (WHO, May 6)

 

 

NGOs / IOs

 

ActionAid is mobilizing staff from other Asian countries to help its team in Myanmar respond to the cyclone. The area worst affected by the cyclone – the Irrawaddy Division – is one where ActionAid works. ActionAid has started an emergency program with their partner KDN, a church-based network working in 276 villages in the affected areas, and five other teams are already working on how to further scale up the response to the disaster. ActionAid’s country director is meeting with the UN, ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Organization) and other NGOs to plan a coordinated response. (AA, May 6)

 

The British Red Cross has released US$59,100 (30,000 pounds) from its disaster fund.

 

CARE's national emergency appeal will provide direct assistance to survivors in two of the hardest hit areas. CARE is currently conducting field assessments in South Dagon and Thaketa areas to determine where the need is greatest. CARE will be providing plastic sheeting, food, jerry cans, water purification tablets and oral rehydration solution to those affected in South Dagon and Thaketa. (CARE, May 6)

 

Caritas network of Catholic aid agencies is coordinating relief efforts for its 162 national members and working with staff in the region. (CI, May 6)

 

Christian Aid has committed an emergency grant. Christian Aid partners in Burma are assessing the situation after a severe cyclone tore through the city of Yangon. (CA, May 6)

 

Church World Service (CWS) is appealing for US$50,000 to start its relief operations in Myanmar.

 

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance to communities in Burma affected by Nargis. Working with the Anglican Church of Burma, ERD is sending funds to secure shelter, food water and other relief needs for people displaced. (ERD, May 6)

 

Global Refugee International will provide an airplane shipment of WHO-approved medical supplies to be flown into Yangon. The agency hopes to have 50,000 to 70,000 people on the ground for the next three months.

 

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has released an initial US$189,000 (200,000 Swiss Francs) to help with the Red Cross response in Myanmar. Red Cross teams are now on the ground assessing damages in all five affected regions of Myanmar. IFRC plans to release 2,000 shelters and 2,000 family kits. IFRC lists its top relief priority as shelter. The IFRC is supporting the Myanmar Red Cross in their efforts to address the needs of the affected people. The Myanmar Red Cross is already handing out relief supplies, such as clean drinking water, plastic sheeting, clothing, insecticide-treated bed nets to help prevent malaria, and kitchen items. Additionally, IFRC has sent a first deployment of shelter kits from Kuala Lumpur. (IFRC. May 6)

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has a strong presence in Mon state and says it is prepared to lead the shelter cluster, as well as provide non-food items and medical supplies.

 

International Medical Corps (IMC) is mobilizing resources to respond with emergency relief to survivors. IMC is identifying the most immediate needs of the cyclone victims and how best to get the emergency supplies to them. To help those most impacted by the cyclone, IMC is preparing to deploy an emergency response team that will address urgent health needs as well as distribute medical supplies, water purification tablets, sanitation items and hygiene kits. IMC is also exploring potential local partnerships to maximize relief efforts. (IMC, May 6)

 

International Rescue Committee is dispatching an emergency team to Myanmar to rapidly assess needs and lay the groundwork for urgent assistance for people made homeless by the weekend's devastating cyclone. The IRC team will begin to assemble in Yangon Tuesday (May 6). (IRC, May 6)

 

Malteser International is providing US$15,490 (10,000 Euros) in assistance. The organization is providing an additional (US$78,000) 50,000 Euros for emergency relief activities. Caritas International supports Malteser’s emergency relief with further (US$78,000) 50,000 Euros. The German Federal Foreign Ministry also agreed to financially support the work. Malteser ordered further water disinfection tablets to distribute them to the population in the district of Dawbon and in the poor rural settlement of Tantabin. A medical team is also providing first aid for the survivors in the Yangon Division. Malteser is planning the distribution of plastic covers for the construction of temporary shelters, cookware, mosquito nets and the construction of further water tanks that catch between 1,000 and 2,000 liters (264 and 528 gallons) and can provide safe drinking water for hundreds of people. (MI, May 6)

 

Operation USA announced today that it has deployed staff already stationed in Asia to assess the needs. (OpUSA, May 6)

 

Save the Children, as the largest NGO presence in Myanmar, is leading the education cluster.

 

Tearfund partner agencies inside Myanmar are responding to the thousands of people that were affected. Partner’s programs are providing response in the form of shelters, food and clean water through a network of churches in the region. Through its partner staff Tearfund is assessing the extent of the need. On top of its existing development program Tearfund has committed US$296,000 (£150,000) to emergency relief. (Tearfund, May 6)

 

Trócaire today (May 6) launched an emergency appeal. Trócaire has been working in Myanmar since 1995 and spent US$ 2.5 million (€1,585,222) there in 2006 – 2007. (Trocaire, May 6)

 

World Emergency Relief (WER) is preparing immediate relief aid for survivors. A team will purchase emergency disaster supplies for local distribution while also coordinating incoming emergency supplies from the U.S. and Europe shipped by WER. WER will continue to monitor the situation and give aid as needed. (WER, May 6)

 

World Vision is distributing water and 10 metric tons of food in Yangon. It is appealing for US$3 million in global donations to support its relief efforts. Initial supplies handed out will include zinc sheets, tents, tarpaulins and medicines.

 

 

Foreign Governments

 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called on its member nations to provide urgent assistance to Myanmar. (ASEAN, May 4)

 

Canada has set aside up to US$2 million to respond to help the cyclone-affected through UN agencies, the Red Cross and major NGOs. (Government of Canada, May 6)

 

China says it will give US$500,000 in cash to Myanmar, as well as tents, blankets and biscuits worth a further US$500,000. (Reuters, May 5)

 

The European Commission announced Tuesday that it will give US$3.1 million (2 million Euros) in emergency relief to Myanmar. The funds will be managed by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department. (European Commission, May 6)

 

Germany will give around US$775,000 through German aid organizations to provide shelter, drinking water, utensils and mosquito nets. (Reuters, May 5)

 

Greece has pledged about US$300,000 in aid and has committed one plane carrying aid. (Reuters, May 5)

 

India will soon send two naval ships loaded with food, tents, clothing, blankets and medicine, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The ships are expected to arrive early Wednesday (May 7). (Times of India, May 5)

 

Indonesia will give US$1 million and will send food, medicine and other humanitarian aid. (Reuters, May 5)

 

Italy is preparing a bilateral shipment of water and sanitation supplies and shelter items, including mosquito netting, plastic sheeting and water containers. Italy has also given US$191,000 (123,000 Euros) to the IFRC. (UN, May 5)

 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is sending tents and generators to arrive Thursday (May 8) worth US$267,570. (Reuters, May 5)

 

The Netherlands has made available US$1.55 million (1 million euros), but will not distribute the money until it determines which relief agencies are being allowed into Myanmar. (Govt of Netherlands, May 6)

 

Norway will provide about US$2 million (10 million NOK) in emergency relief (Govt. of Norway, May 6)

 

Qatar is standing by with general relief items to dispatch if necessary. (UNOCHA, May 5)

 

Russia's EMERCOM is providing tents and blankets, 15 MT of sugar and canned meat, 10 MT of disinfectants and medical supplies and eight generators. (EMERCOM, May 5)

 

Thailand has donated an initial US$50,000 and planned to use C-130 aircraft to airlift nine metric tons of food and medical supplies worth US$284,400 (9 million Thai baht) to its neighbor.

 

Singapore is providing US$200,000 and has offered medical and rescue teams. (Reuters, May 5)

 

Swedish Rescue Mission Services is ready to deploy experts on logistics, telecommunications and shelter on short notice.

 

The United States has provided an initial US$250,000 and has a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) on standby. A State Department spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying that the Myanmar government had not given the US team permission to enter the country yet Monday. The US embassy in Myanmar has issued a disaster declaration in the country. The US$250,000 is being distributed for water/sanitation, emergency food assistance and shelter through the UN's UNICEF, WFP and UNHCR. (USAID, May 6)