Cyclone Nargis Update

 

May 28, 2008

 

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

 

Current Status

 

Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck southwestern Myanmar (Burma) around 16:00 local time on May 2 with sustained winds of 120 mph (190 kph) and causing widespread damage to buildings, infrastructure and swaths of farmland. The official death toll remained at 77,738 Wednesday (May 28), with 55,917 reported missing. The Red Cross estimates the final figure could be as high as 127,990. Yangon (Rangoon), Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) Division, Pegu (Bago) Division, Karen (Kayin) state and Mon state have all been declared disaster zones. The UN estimates 2.4 million people were affected by Nargis, most in the Irrawaddy Delta region. However, most of the 1,017,000 who have been reached live in Yangon Division.

 

The UN Flash Appeal stands at US$201 million. Thirty-eight percent has been contributed so far, including US$22.4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. While OCHA’s Financial Tracking System (FTS) indicates that 38.5 percent of the appeal has been met, OCHA chief John Holmes said Tuesday that about 60 percent – around US$119 million – had been raised. Overall, FTS says US$138.1 million has been committed to relief operations, with a further US$106.2 pledged. The junta has requested US$11.7 billion in foreign aid, and Holmes said that once the response shifts from relief to reconstruction, the amount of money needed will climb into the billions. (Reuters, May 27)

 

Relief worker access to the hardest hit Irrawaddy Delta continues to improve. The government approved all 45 remaining visa requests for UN agencies Wednesday and NGOs also report a significant increase in visa approval. (OCHA, May 28) Myanmar’s state-run media reported Wednesday that individual volunteers are free to travel into cyclone-devastated regions to give donations, although the junta urges donors to “avoid unsystematic donations and acts that may tarnish the image of the nation and its people.” A World Food Program spokesperson said more than 200 international staff are now in Myanmar working with the UN and there have been no reports of major problems when workers attempt to access the delta. (AFP, May 28) He said the military requires aid workers to give 48 hours’ notice before traveling into the delta. (IHT, May 28) Several countries and agencies have lent aircraft to the UN for faster distribution to the delta. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the relief operation will last at least six months.

 

Amid reports of a more transparent relief system, there have been a few reports of donors encountering problems. The junta has reportedly set up road blocks to keep people from driving through areas where thousands of survivors have gathered beside roads to beg for assistance. (AFP, May 28). Also, there have been reports of peoples’ cars being impounded as they returned from hard-hit areas, allegedly as punishment for feeding beggars. (Mizzima, May 27)

 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has taken a key role in the response to Nargis, will re-deploy its Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) for an in-depth assessment of recovery needs beginning June 1. An ASEAN field office has been set up in the main city, Yangon. (ASEAN, May 27)

 

The Early Recovery cluster and other sectors have agreed to develop and coordinate early recovery operations within each cluster. (OCHA, May 28)

 

International leaders say the junta’s decision to extend by one year the detention of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not affect donations or relief work. (AFP, May 28)

 

With the rainy season about to begin, aid groups fear the spread of diarrheal diseases like cholera and dysentery will be exacerbated. The diseases were endemic in Myanmar before the cyclone, but the World Health Organization says there are no accurate figures about the rate of infection. (IRIN, May 27)

Impact

 

The official 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 (storm surge). About 21.5 million people out of Myanmar’s 53-million population live in the five regions that have been declared disaster zones – Yangon, Irrawaddy Division, Pegu (Bago) Division, Karen (Kayin) state and Mon state.

 

About 2.4 million people were affected by Nargis, including 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, and about 680,000 in severely affected areas of Yangon.

 

Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry says losses from the cyclone are expected to exceed US$10 billion and has asked for US$11.7 billion in aid. Several sources report 95 percent of structures in the delta were destroyed. In Bogalay an estimated 10,000 people died. There are about 400 villages in Bogalay Township and the UN says that 95 percent of the township was destroyed by the storm. (Irrawaddy, May 24) The IFRC reported Monday that at least 1.5 million people remain homeless in the delta. (AP, May 26) About 110,000 people are living in temporary settlements in 14 townships.

 

Widespread destruction and lack of running water could yield epidemics of food- and water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. Health officials say water-borne diseases are within normal levels for this time of year, but the World Health Organization says it doesn’t yet have a clear picture of the health situation in the worst-affected areas.

 

About 2.3 percent of Myanmar’s annual rice crop was lost in the storm. With monsoon rains arriving, Myanmar’s main planting season, which began at the beginning of May and would normally wrap up five to seven weeks from now, could be disrupted, threatening the main November rice harvest and requiring food assistance for months. The five worst-hit states produce 65 percent of the country’s rice, roughly half of poultry and 40 percent of pigs. More than 1 million acres of farmland were flooded. About 280,000 cattle used for plowing died. (AFP, May 28)

 

Myanmar’s Ministry of Education says 3,000 primary 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. Children who have lost homes and families are now vulnerable to exploitation, child soldier recruitment and trafficking. UNICEF says 1 million children need urgent assistance.

 

Response Coordination

 

Myanmar’s government is coordinating disaster response with the UN Resident Coordinator and the cluster system established by the UN Disaster Management Team and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). 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.

 

Most aid delivery is through national and community-based NGOs. The Myanmar Red Cross Society is the key agency. The IASC’s Humanitarian Country Team has started prioritizing movement of relief goods to affected areas based on need. The top priorities are shelter, food, water and sanitation, and health. (OCHA, May 24)

 

ASEAN will lead a two-tier mechanism for coordinating and monitoring international assistance. The first (policy) tier will be a Task Force headed by ASEAN’s secretary-general including two representatives from each of the 10 member nations. OCHA will hold permanent advisory status and the group will meet as required. The second (operational) tier will be the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), chaired by the government of Myanmar, which will have three representatives each from the junta (lead by the deputy foreign minister), ASEAN (led by the Thai ambassador to Myanmar and the UN (led by the Humanitarian Coordinator). (OCHA, May 28) The TCG will meet two to three times a week.

 

The Early Recovery cluster and other sectors have agreed to develop and coordinate early recovery operations within each cluster. (OCHA, May 28)

 

National UN liaison officers stationed in government facilities work with the national Disaster Management Teams to assist coordination, planning and information sharing.

 

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

 

While a coordination center is operational in Labutta, four more are opening in Bogalay, Pyapon, Mawlamyinegyun and Pathein.

 

OCHA has launched a Humanitarian Information Center (HIC) Web site for Myanmar at http://myanmar.humanitarianinfo.org to improve collaboration between agencies and has also set up an On-Site Operations Coordination Center (OSOCC).

 

 

 

 

Background

 

Cyclone season in 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. It was reportedly the worst storm to hit Rakhine since 1968. The junta has acknowledged that Myanmar has never seen a disaster on the scale of Nargis.

 

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. (Reuters)

 

 

Government Response

 

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement heads national relief efforts.

 

Myanmar will lead and contribute three members to a Tripartite Core Group (TCG) with the UN and ASEAN that will address operational problems with aid delivery as part of a two-tier coordinating mechanism. The deputy foreign minister will lead the junta’s contingent in the TCG. (OCHA, May 28)

 

The National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee (NDPCC) headed by the prime minister has mobilized military and police units for rescue, rehabilitation and clean-up operations in the Yangon area. The government has fewer than 40 helicopters and only around 15 transport planes, primarily small jets unable to carry hundreds of tons of supplies. Four infantry divisions have been deployed to affected areas. The government approved the 45 remaining visa requests for various UN agencies Wednesday. (OCHA, May 28)

 

Police are trying to clear the roads of thousands of cyclone survivors who are begging for food from passing cars. The government said relief items should be given out only at relief centers and police and soldiers have established roadblocks to question foreigners on the main route from Yangon to Dedaye following reports of relief volunteers driving to villages to deliver aid themselves amid the junta’s restrictions. (AFP, May 27)

 

The junta now says school will resume in July for children in Irrawaddy Division.

 

The Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development says electricity supply to Yangon is at 59.6 percent of normal coverage, telephone is at 76.3 percent and water supply is 98.5 percent. (OCHA, May 23)

 

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. (AP, May 20)

 

NDPCC says there are more than 2000 government and NGO medical experts and 39,000 Red Cross and private health workers deployed in affected areas. The Ministry of Health is working on cross-sectoral prevention measures and says three medical ships with 34 doctors are providing health services in the delta. Government health professionals are working in 12 relief camps. The UN World Health Organization is supporting 350 Ministry of Health rapid response and medical teams. (WHO, May 23)

 

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

 

The government provided 122 power tillers to farmers in Dedaye. (OCHA, May 28)

 

 

National Response

 

More than 100 Myanmar organizations, companies and benefactors have donated relief items. More than 40 Myanmar NGOs are participating in a local NGO Resource Center. Buddhist monks are playing a major role by housing victims in monasteries and distributing rice and shelter materials delivered by aid agencies. Local NGOs and civil society groups have reached an estimated 128,000 survivors. (OCHA, May 24)

 

The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) has more than 27,000 volunteers distributing the bulk of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) supplies. MRCS is expected to receive US$4.5 million (5 billion MMK) from the government. MRCS has reached a total of 124,190 beneficiaries, 90,000 of them in Irrawaddy Division. (OCHA, May 27) MRCS has five operational assessment teams in Irrawaddy, Yangon and Pegu divisions, Mon and Kayin states. MRCS is helping UNICEF distribute supplies.

 

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

 

Knowledge and Dedication for the Nation (KDN), Pact Myanmar and Myanmar Egress are delivering food in partnership with Action Aid. KDN has set up four relief camps providing food, medical aid and temporary shelter to survivors in the delta.

 

Community organizations Pyi Gyi Khin, AFXB and Myanmar Positive Group are organizing support for cyclone-affected HIV-positive persons.

 

Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) has a relief committee that sent three teams to assist and assess three affected areas.

 

International Response

 

United Nations

 

The government of Myanmar approved all remaining visa requests (45) for various UN agencies Wednesday. (OCHA, May 28)

 

More than 200 international staffers are now in Myanmar working with the UN. The UN says those who have entered the delta area have so far not encountered any major problems. (AFP, May 28)

 

The UN estimates that of the 2.4 million affected, around 42 percent had received some form of emergency assistance. Of the 2 million living in the 15 worst-affected townships, only 23 percent had been reached. (AP, May 26)

 

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

 

There are 109 national UN staff in cyclone-affected areas and almost 100 international UN staff (AP, May 23) in Yangon, according to the UN Department of Safety and Security. UN agencies have landed at least 26 relief flights in Yangon, including 14 from the WFP, four from UNICEF, four from UNHCR, three from WHO and one from OCHA.

 

The UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) is liaising with government representatives.

 

OCHA says one database is being developed for overview of damages from MRCS and UNICEF assessments and another for medium-term disaster data from each village.

 

The UN Flash Appeal launched May 9 was updated on May 17, requesting US$201 million to support survivors for at least six months. The appeal will support 10 UN organizations and nine NGOs. As of May 28, a total of US$138,129,347 has been committed to relief operations, with a further US$106,152,705 pledged. Of these contributions, US$77.6 million has been committed to projects outlined in the Flash Appeal. An additional US$49.7 million has been pledged. The Flash Appeal is currently covered at 38.5 percent. (OCHA, May 28) More than 20 UN Agencies and NGOs have requested funding through the Appeal. The largest contributor thus far to the Flash Appeal is the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) with $22.4 million to support 11 projects in seven clusters. The appeal is likely to be revised on June 10.

 

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

 

UNDP leads the early recovery cluster and has established a relay system using road transportation of personnel and supplies into Irrawaddy Division. UNDP and its implementing partner, PACT, have 19 field offices and some 500 staff stationed in the Irrawaddy Delta. Together with WFP, UNDP is delivering rice to affected communities, using UNDP offices in Yangon and the field to aid and coordinate logistics. UNDP has a field staff team in the delta to gather information from the 1,700 villages in which UNDP is operational. UNDP Cash for Work programs are underway in the rice growing area of Kyaiklat in the Irrawaddy delta. (UNDP, May 23)

 

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. The agency is conducting needs assessments in water/sanitation with 16 NGOs. Immediate priorities have been assessing damages to schools and planning for education to resume on June 1. There are four mobile UNICEF teams in six Irrawaddy delta townships and another seven teams in 17 Yangon townships. UNICEF is still conducting rapid assessments for acute malnutrition in affected areas. UNICEF plans to rapidly move forward with the mapping situation of children and women in affected areas. (UNICEF, May 26) UNICEF has been given permission to move nine monitoring staff to the field. (LC, May 27)

 

The UNHCR will support the IFRC, which is the in-country lead for the shelter cluster. Out of the US$187 million Flash Appeal, UNHCR is asking for US$6 million to help 250,000 people with temporary shelter. UNHCR has brought in a total of 119 tons of shelter supplies and other relief items. The shelter cluster plans to reach 200,000 out of 300,000 affected households within three weeks.

 

WFP leads the logistics cluster. WFP’s Emergency Operation for Myanmar, with a budget of US$69.5 million, aims to deliver a complete food basket to a total of 750,000 people in need of immediate food assistance. WFP's operation has received US$12.5 million in confirmed contributions, including over US$5 million from the UN CERF. This is in addition to contributions from Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Australia, Italy and private donors. Further donations are expected to be confirmed in the coming days. US$15 million has been confirmed against the US$50 million logistics Special Operation. (WFP, May 27) WFP has 220 local staff. There are 29 national staff members deployed to affected areas outside of Yangon. A total of 36 visas have been approved for WFP international staff since the cyclone struck and there are 19 international staff in-country. (WFP, May 27) An air operations hub managed by WFP at Bangkok's Don Muang became operational May 19. WFP has established two field offices in the Irrawaddy – in Labutta and Bogalay – which are being equipped with both internet and HF radio connectivity. A logistics hub is being set up in Pyapon and another hub may be established in Pathein. Myanmar is allowing 10 WFP helicopters to deliver aid to remote affected areas. Three foreign relief workers have arrived in the delta since May 24 and WFP is planning to deploy more to the area. (Irrawaddy, May 26).

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) leads the health cluster, which comprises 22 international NGOs and other UN agencies. Sixteen WHO surveillance officers have been deployed to Irrawaddy and Yangon, including 11 international staff. WHO's South-East Asia Regional Office released US$350,000 from its regional health emergency fund (SEARHEF). Another US$50,000 has been provided by WHO headquarters in Geneva. The CERF has allocated US$4 million for Health Cluster activities. As of May 18, US$6.2 million had been mobilized. Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Deputy Regional Director for South-East Asia, is heading emergency operations. WHO country office is being strengthened with five more experts who are expected to join within the next few days. (WHO, May 28)

 

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) leads the agricultural cluster. The FAO has clearance from the Ministry of Livestock and OCHA says FAO staff have been allowed to move freely in affected areas. FAO is funding part of the early damage and needs assessment from its own resources (US$638 000), and has received funding of $500,000 from Italy. As part of the UN Flash appeal, FAO estimated initial needs for agriculture, livestock and fishery at US$10 million. (FAO, May 23) A CERF grant of US$2 million from the rapid response window has been approved for FAO. The project provides emergency support to restore food security in affected areas through the provision of agriculture inputs and assistance. (OCHA, May 24)

 

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

 

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is distributing reproductive health kits.

 

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Program Specialist on Assessment for the Education Sector is working with UNICEF on education assessment and setting up a pre- and post-situation analysis database.

 

UNAIDS is coordinating partners focused on HIV to ensure that they are accessing the cluster system and to integrate HIV strategies into the response. (OCHA, May 16)

 

At the request of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (JEU), an environmental emergencies expert is on standby in Bangkok as part of a bilateral agreement between Sweden and Myanmar. The JEU is liaising with Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA), OCHA ROAP, and the UNEP Regional Office. (OCHA, May 16)

 

 

NGOs / IOs

 

ActionAid is delivering food, water, medical aid and temporary shelters and plans a three-month relief program, planning to reach 136,500 people in 390 villages through local NGOs by the end of July. It has allocated US$1.3 million (675,000 GBP) and has so far spent US$175,000 (89,000 GBP).

 

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) Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) is assisting. (PWS&D, May 26)

 

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, where a team carried out a needs assessment. ACF has 22 international and over 300 national staff responding in Myanmar. (ACF, May 18)

 

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) is committing US$265,000, complemented by US$100,000 from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Working with the UN and government, ADRA is providing aid to 30,000 people in the remote Pyinsalu islands south of Labutta. (ADRA, May 20)

 

AmeriCares Foundation has an emergency relief expert doing assessments, obtained clearance for a 15-ton airlift of medical supplies to Yangon, and is working with the WHO. (AmeriCares, May 10)

 

Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) opened a mobile clinic in Yangon Division’s Kungyangon Township with 17 local professionals and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. AMDA has served 1,300 patients. (AMDA, May 23)

 

Air Serv International mobilized its Rapid Response Team and is conducting a needs assessment. Helicopters are ready to deliver supplies and workers. (Air Serv, May 7)

 

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)

 

Asian Development Bank (ADB) may provide experts to assess reconstruction needs in conjunction with ASEAN. (ADB, May 21)

 

Australian Aid International has a team standing by in Thailand. (AAI, May 16)

 

Austrian Red Cross will send three Austrian and several German drinking water specialists to Myanmar for six to eight weeks setting up drinking water facilities.

 

Baptist World Aid (BWAid) received visas for search, rescue and relief team members to enter Myanmar. They will be in-country by May 16, where they will make contact with Myanmar Baptists and coordinate relief efforts. (BWAid, May 15)

 

The British Red Cross (BRC) has reached at least 100,000 people with shelter supplies. The public has donated more than US$1.5 million (750,000 pounds) to the BRC’s emergency appeal. At least 21 BRC workers are in-country and the agency has sent one emergency logistics flight carrying vehicles. (BRC, May 27)

 

CARE has 500 staff and offices in 11 of Myanmar’s 14 states, and seven emergency experts ready to deploy to Myanmar. CARE has assisted about 110,000 people so far and is performing new assessments to expand assistance. (CARE, May 27)

 

Caritas Internationalis is appealing for US$8 million for the next three months. (Development and Peace, May 27) Through local Catholic Church partners, Caritas has delivered food, water, shelter and medical treatment to over 60,000 people in Pathein and Yangon. (Caritas, May 19) Caritas has 162 national members.

 

Catholic Relief Services has reached 60,000 people through Caritas.(DFID, May 26)

 

CHF International is working with partners to help organize emergency operations and is supporting the IFRC-led Emergency Shelter Cluster. (CHF, May 15)

 

Christian Aid is distributing water purification tablets, blankets and medicines to 100,000 people. (CA, May 10) CA has committed US$98,000 (50,000 GBP) for local partners to carry out relief work. (CA, May 8)

 

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is making travel arrangements for an International Relief Manager and awaiting clearance from the government. It is supporting its local partner in Myanmar. (CRWRC, May 15)

 

Church World Service (CWS) raised more than US$50,000 and expects to deploy a team to Myanmar. (CWS, May 7)

 

Concern Worldwide has two emergency response team members in-country and will distribute supplies through local and UN agencies. It has 10 tons of rice and shelter supplies for 10,000 people in stock. (Concern, May 21)

 

DanChurchAid (DCA) has local partners accessing the delta. Four trucks carrying rice, noodles, blankets, medicine and plastic sheets reached six monasteries, aided by monks registering families. (DCA, May 14)

 

Direct Relief International committed US$500,000 in cash to the relief effort and sent an initial airlift of US$200,000 worth of medical aid. (DRI, May 12)

 

Dubai Cares delivered over 60 tons of relief supplies. (Govt. of UAE, May 13)

 

Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a group of 13 UK charities, raised US$19.8 million (10 million GBP) by the time it closed the week of May 26. (BRC, May 27)

 

Emergency Assistance Team (EAT-BURMA) – a coalition of grassroots organizations based on the Thai-Myanmar border – is working with 40 people through networks of local organizations to deliver food, water, cooking equipment, shelter, clothing and health care. (Mae Tao Clinic, May 9)

 

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is sending funds and providing aid through its partner, the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM). (ERD, May 6)

 

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

 

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

 

Global Hope Network International (GHNI) is working with partners in Southeast Asia and is preparing to send six containers of disaster relief supplies. (GHNI, May 7)

 

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

 

Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) is working with Canadian healthcare companies, the WHO and aid agency partners on the ground to provide needed medicines and supplies. (HPIC, May 7)

 

HelpAge International is coordinating a homecare program for the estimated 208,000 affected older people in Myanmar. (HelpAge, May 21)

 

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has six foreign and 90 local staff in Myanmar and hopes to bring more in. ICRC has delivered aid to various detention facilities. At the request of Myanmar, the ICRC is providing temporary shelter, emergency household items and enough food, drinking water and essential drugs and is supporting efforts to restore water/sanitation systems. It has drawn up an initial budget of US$1.9 million (2 million Swiss francs). (ICRC, May 7)

 

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is leading the shelter cluster with support from UNHCR. The IFRC is appealing for US$50.8 million (52.9 million CHF) to assist 100,000 families for three years. The appeal is 65 percent convered. IFRC has flown 30 flights. IFRC demobilized its FACT team, but three experts remain in-country to support operations. (IFRC, May 27)

 

International Federation Terre des homes (IFTDH) was in the country before Nargis hit and is distributing aid and cleaning and restoring sewage systems affected 4,500 people in the outskirts of Yangon. IFTDH will open five child centers with clothes, generators and water supply. (IFTDH, May 16)

 

International Medical Corps (IMC) deployed an emergency response team in Bangkok. IMC has secured medicines, hygiene kits and water purification tablets and identified a local partner to channel initial efforts in Myanmar. The IMC team is prepared to assist directly once it receives visas to enter Myanmar. (IMC, May 13)

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) deployed a team of Asian emergency relief specialists in addition to 200 IOM staff already in Myanmar and Thailand. Four medical teams are working in Bogalay. IOM is appealing for US$8 million for shelter and health projects and has received US$1.88 million. IOM is chairing a working group within the shelter cluster. IOM has distributed 14 MT of drugs.

 

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) will provide cash to its ecumenical partners for emergency relief supplies and issue an emergency appeal. (IOCC, May 7)

 

International Rescue Committee (IRC) emergency team members are in Myanmar and four additional teams are on standby for deployment as the IRC prepares for a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases. The IRC has medical, water, sanitation, operations and logistics experts in the region ready to be dispatched to Myanmar. The IRC has emergency stocks in Dubai ready for shipment and is procuring cholera kits, emergency health kits and water treatment supplies to position in Thailand. (IRC, May 9)

 

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deployed 100 satellite terminals.

 

Irish Red Cross Society has sent US$155,000 (100,000 Euros). (IRCS, May 15)

 

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) pledged US$50,000 to support the relief efforts of Action by Churches Together (ACT). (LWR, May 12)

 

MADRE is working with the Women’s Human Rights Defenders Network and three local women’s organizations to reunite families separated by the cyclone, rebuild shelter for women and families, and provide psychological counseling to traumatized children.

 

Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) is distributing relief and health items. Through the IFRC, the MRC will deploy 10 medical, relief and logistics personnel. MRCS has transmitted US$10, 000 to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. (MRCS, May 7)

 

Malteser International has about 200 staff on the ground. Two mobile medical teams in Labutta have installed an emergency health station. Malteser is planning to build water tanks and providing US$15,490 (10,000 Euros) in assistance and an additional US$78,000 (50,000 Euros) for emergency relief activities. It has received (US$78,000) 50,000 Euros from Caritas as well as funds from the German Federal Foreign Ministry. Malteser has aided a total of 50,000 survivors. (MI, May 16)

 

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) is distributing food, plastic sheeting and water containers in the Irrawaddy Delta. MSF has 201 staff working in delta townships and 28 medical teams. Ten international staff have been allowed in the delta, with the remaining 20 still restricted to Yangon. (DPA, May 26)

 

Medical Assistance Programs International (MAP) is shipping more than US$100,000 in medicine and medical supplies to Myanmar. (MAP, May 20)

 

Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin) is running one emergency clinic in Labutta’s damaged football stadium and setting up clinics at three other sites in Labutta.

 

Medical Teams International (MTI) is helping local partners purchase medicines and supplies. MTI medical volunteers and staff are on standby, waiting for visas. MTI is working with partner World Concern in Yangon to address health needs and is joining Global Relief Alliance members to provide a long-term response. (MTI, May 11)

 

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) gave US$35,000 to Myanmar NGO Metta to provide rice, medicine and other items. MCC also gave US$30,000 to Hope International, US$20,000 to CWS and US$15,000 to IDE-Myanmar. (MCC, May 13)

 

Mercy Corps (MC) announced a new partnership with Merlin and will be working with them in the Labutta district. The director and three staff are in Myanmar.

 

MERCY Malaysia sent a four-member relief team to Yangon and allocated an initial US$46,000 (150,000 MYR) for aid. (Government of Malaysia, May 16)

 

Mission Aviation Fellowship staff awaits visas to enter Myanmar. (MAF, May 14)

 

Muslim Aid is working with partners like Global Medic to provide clean water, medicine and healthcare. Muslim Aid is appealing for US$2 million. (Muslim Aid, May 7)

 

Muslim Hands International (MHI) is launching an urgent appeal for funds and is assessing the situation. (MHI, May 7)

 

New Zealand Red Cross (NZRC) donated US$100,000 through its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to the IFRC emergency appeal. (NZRC, May 16)

 

Operation Blessing International is working with locals to provide food and water.

 

Operation USA has deployed staff to assess needs. (Operation USA, May 6)

 

Oxfam International has committed US$1.2 million to an initial response. Oxfam is working through local partner Metta, with a crew of 29 staffers and 62 volunteers, and provided funds to other international aid groups already in Myanmar. (Oxfam, May 7, 13)

 

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) has dispatched the first two members of a three-man disaster assessment team to Myanmar, stopping first in Bangkok to get visas and coordinate with the Myanmar Red Cross. (PNRC, May 12)

 

Plan will give US$350,000 to a local partner, FED, so it can deploy more staff and distribute medical supplies to children and families. (Plan, May 21)

 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has committed US$100,000. The response is focused on food and shelter, with up to US$50,000 planned in food aid. PDA is partnering with Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and Church World Service, which have local partners to help in the provision of relief items. (PDA, May 8)

 

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

 

Refugees International (RI) urges China, India and ASEAN countries to pressure Myanmar to allow increased international involvement and to insist that visas be granted as quickly as possible to aid workers and that import procedures be waived for humanitarian goods. (RI, May 7) RI urged the US Congress to approve US$40 million in supplemental appropriations for US aid to Myanmar. (RI, May 22)

 

Relief International (RI) is working with teams of local doctors and health personnel establishing mobile clinics and activating local resources to provide relief. RI has established an office in Yangon. (RI, May 11)

 

Rotary International flew 1,000 Shelterbox kits into Yangon.

 

Save the Children (SC) and UNICEF lead the Education Cluster. SC launched a global emergency appeal for US$9.8 million (£5 million). SC has reached 161,000 people, including 50,000 children, with food, water, shelter and rehydration supplies. 90,000 beneficiaries are in Yangon, 56,000 are in the western Irrawaddy delta and more than 15,000 are in the eastern delta. (SC, May 19) SC has 500 staff members in Myanmar.

 

Tearfund partner agencies in Myanmar are providing shelter, food and clean water through a network of churches. Tearfund has committed US$296,000 (£150,000) to emergency relief. (Tearfund, May 6)

 

Technisches Hifswerk (THW) has sent water treatment units.

 

Trócaire launched a US$1.5 million (1 million Euro) relief program and is targeting 60,000 people through local partners with food, shelter and health care in Pathein and Yangon. (Trocaire, May 19)

 

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

 

United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Authority (UAE RCA) has a humanitarian team ready and has flown in food, water, blankets and medicine. (Govt. of UAE, May 15)

 

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working through partners such as Church World Service to provide aid. (UMCOR, May 7)

 

United Way International (UWI) created the Asia Disaster Recovery Fund to support recovery in Myanmar and China. (UWI, May 14)

 

Welthungerhilfe has 150 local employees in affected areas. It has donated US$773,000 (500,000 Euros) and distributed food and supplies to 20,000 people in Yangon and the delta. (Welthungerhilfe, May 23)

 

World Bank has promised to help ASEAN with disaster assessments and relief work.

 

World Emergency Relief (WER) has a rescue team providing aid on the Myanmar/Thai border. WER launched an emergency appeal. (WER, May 7)

 

World Relief (WR) is working with Global Relief Alliance partners. Partner agency World Concern has local staff in Myanmar, through which WR channels aid. (WR, May 13)

 

World Vision (WV) has 580 permanent staff working on 31 projects in Myanmar. Eighteen WV international staff have been granted visas to support the Country Team, six others are waiting for visas. (Mizzima, May 26) WV has helped more than 135,000 people in Yangon and Irrawaddy, distributing rice, oil and other relief supplies. WV appealed for US$3 million to help up to 500,000 people. (WV, May 23)

 

Foreign Governments

 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) established an emergency humanitarian relief fund and its Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) will re-deploy for a new assessment on June 1. An ASEAN field office has been set up in Yangon. ASEAN will lead a task force of two representatives from each member nation that will serve as the policy tier of a new coordinating mechanism for aid delivery.

 

Argentina dispatched water purification tablets. (Virtual OSOCC, May 9)

 

Austria dispatched 600 plastic sheets. (Virtual OSOCC, May 9)

 

Australia provided US$24 million, of which 12.5 million AUD will go to the UN Flash Appeal. (AusAID, GoA, May 11) The Air Force delivered two helicopters to the UN for use in distributing WFP aid. (ABC, May 28)

 

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 in humanitarian assistance and has mobilized relief teams to assist shelter, WASH and health activities, arriving May 21. (UN, May 20)

 

Cambodia provided US$60,000 in relief work. (OCHA, May 13)

 

Canada has set aside up to US$2 million to respond through UN agencies, the Red Cross and major NGOs. Canada has offered a Disaster Assistance Response Team and will send five helicopters to assist WFP aid delivery. Canada said it would lend its biggest military aircraft, a C-17 cargo lifter, to make deliveries for the UN.

 

China has offered US$11 million in aid to Myanmar. (AP, May 25) A 50-member medical team requested through ASEAN is in Kungyangon and Dedaye.

 

The Czech Republic provided US$154,672 in humanitarian aid. (OCHA, May 13)

 

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

 

Estonia provided US$49,777 in humanitarian assistance. (OCHA, May 13)

 

European Community has offered US$99.3 million, US$26.8 million of which was pledged at the May 25 donors conference in Yangon. (AP, May 25)

 

The European Union (EU) will give US$3.1 million (2 million Euros) in fast-track aid managed by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department. (EC, May 6) 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. The ship Le Mistral unloaded its cargo in Thailand on May 28 for distribution. (The Nation, May 28) A Secouristes Sans Frontieres team deployed on May 28. (UN, May 28)

 

Germany pledged US$6.3 million (4 million Euros) through German aid groups. Five German aid workers were granted access to the delta on May 25. Three German aid flights have landed in Yangon. (GoG, May 26)

 

Greece has sent two aircraft carrying medicines, food, water purification tablets and tents and pledged about US$300,000. (GoG, May 12)

 

India sent naval ships and aircraft with food, tents, clothing, blankets and medicine. Forty-seven medics and relief experts are in Bogalay and Pyapon.

 

Indonesia pledged US$1 million and food, medicine and other aid. (Reuters, May 15)

 

Ireland relief supplies are being airlifted to Myanmar from UN warehouses in Italy. The Irish Rapid Response Corps is on stand-by for deployment if requested. (AFP, May 6)

 

Israel’s volunteer umbrella organization, IsraAID, flew in a small team of doctors, nurses and water specialists to Myanmar on May 8 for three weeks. (GOI, May 12)

 

Italy delivered shelter supplies valued at US$240,000. (Virtual OSOCC, May 9) Italy has also given US$191,000 (123,000 Euros) to the IFRC. (UN, May 5)

 

Japan has pledged up to US$12.7 million (1.32 billion yen) worth of aid through UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP and its own flights. A 23-member Disaster Relief medical team will leave for Myanmar May 29 to be based out of Labutta. (JICA, May 28)

 

Laos dispatched 2.5 tons of food and water. A 23-member medical team requested through ASEAN is in Kyauktan.

 

Malaysia contributed US$1 million to Myanmar’s government and has 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 has offered US$20 million (100 million NOK). The increase from an original US$9.8 donation is conditional on Myanmar granting aid workers full access to hard-hit regions. (AFP, May 26)

 

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) provided US$500,000 through OCHA in relief supplies and emergency operations. (OCHA, May 13)

 

The Philippines has pledged US$20 million and sent a 30-member medical team along with an air force C-130 carrying US$300,000 worth of relief items. (DPA, May 26)

 

Poland pledged US$240,385 to support UNICEF’s work. (OCHA, May 13)

 

Qatar is dispatching relief items and medical teams support. (Virtual OSOCC, May 9)

 

Romania granted US$154,560 (100,000 Euros) via the WHO. (Xinhua, May 14)

 

Russia has provided US$2.1 million in aid and has sent more than 30 tons of tents, blankets, medicine and food. (Xinhua, May 11)

 

Singapore dispatched US$200,000 in relief items, including medical supplies, water, purification tablets, tents, groundsheets, blankets, sleeping bags and food. A 15-member medical team is in Yangon. Myanmar is allowing Singapore military helicopters to deliver food to parts of the Irrawaddy inaccessible by road (The Nation, May 28)

 

South Korea has pledged at least US$2.5 million in relief goods. (AP, May 25)

 

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

 

Sri Lanka is sending 20 tons of relief items and giving US$25,000 to the Myanmar government. It may also send a team of doctors and nurses. (Xinhua, May 6)

 

Sweden has provided US$582,363 in humanitarian assistance. Swedish Rescue Mission Services is ready to deploy logistics, telecommunications and shelter experts.

 

Switzerland, through its Agency for Development and Cooperation, has released US$475,000 (500,000 CHF). An assessment team of a doctor, water and building specialists, two logistics experts and a Swiss Red Cross member was dispatched.

 

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

 

Thailand has donated US$1.9 million (60 million BHT) to Myanmar. A 33-member medical team on the ground has treated more than 2,500 patients.

 

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

 

Vietnam is providing US$200,000 in emergency aid. The Vietnam Red Cross and Vietnamese enterprises have pledged US$70,000. (GoV, May 12)

 

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided US$1.75 million in school materials through Dubai Cares and flown in medicines and shelter items organized by the UAE Red Crescent.

 

The United Kingdom pledged US$33.3 million (17 million GBP). The British public has donated US$11.7 (6 million GBP) to the Disasters Emergency Committee. (CARE, May 15) The Department for International Development (DFID) humanitarian emergency response team is in-country. Navy ship HMS Westminster was ordered to stand by off Myanmar with emergency aid. Several DFID flights have already delivered aid and 11 more carrying supplies to provide shelter for 250,000 people are scheduled from May 26 through June 4. (DFID, May 26)

 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided US$21.8 million primarily through UN agencies. As of May 27, 70 US military airlifts had delivered 637.3 MT of shelter items, food and medical supplies. Twenty-six of the flights were consigned to NGO and UN partners. (GoUS, May 27) On May 26, 32 flights were scheduled for the next nine days. (UNJLC, May 26) Four US ships, the USS Essex, USS Juneau, USS Harpers Ferry and the USS Mustin, with a total of 14 helicopters, two landing-craft vessels, two amphibious hovercraft and about 1,000 Marines, have been off-shore since May 13. The 10-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and remains on standby in Bangkok. The government and private sector have committed over US$1.5 billion. (AP, May 8)