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Two years after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta, funding remains key in sustaining ongoing recovery efforts, the UN says.
“The single biggest challenge for humanitarian workers and agencies to continue their activities is resources – funds,” Bishow Parajuli, the UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, told IRIN from Yangon.
Assistance from some sources – including Australia, the UK, US and European Union – had increased, but a number of other donors scaled back their commitment after the initial relief period, Parajuli said.
“Though there was good support during the relief period, the recovery support did not come at the same level as we hoped for,” he said.
He also urged the Myanmar authorities to support humanitarian agencies’ efforts, particularly with respect to providing visas and access to the delta for all aid workers.
“We will keep advocating for unhindered access to people in need of humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Since the category four storm struck, extensive relief efforts helped people get back on their feet, but residents still need help in several areas, including drinking water, shelter and livelihoods.
Over the past two years, humanitarian agencies have provided nearly 1,600 water storage tanks and distributed 90,000 ceramic water filters, but a prolonged dry spell this year may result in a shortage of drinking water, Parajuli said.
According to UN Habitat, about 180,000 homes received cash or materials to repair and rebuild, but another 150,000 families still require shelter support.
“Given that coastal communities are prone to hazards and the fact that the maximum number of deaths resulted from a lack of safe shelters during Cyclone Nargis, it is paramount to keep in mind the possible consequences should another cyclone make landfall in the region,” said Srinivasa Popuri, head of UN Habitat in Myanmar.
The latest post-Nargis Monthly Recovery Update from the Myanmar government, ASEAN and the UN said only 6 percent of household heads considered their homes safe against extreme weather conditions.
Popuri warned that the temporary shelters provided during the relief efforts had lasted through two monsoon seasons, and with the upcoming monsoons in May, he warned, “these deteriorated materials cannot be considered of much practical value at this time”.
Parajuli said many residents still suffered economic hardship after the cyclone wiped out their livelihoods. Agencies have provided seeds, farming equipment and fishing boats, but residents need more opportunities in the agriculture and fishing sectors.
The Monthly Recovery Update said the funding needed for livelihoods and shelter in 2009 was US$158 million, but only $63.5 million – or 40 percent – was raised. It reported that 227,000 buffaloes and cows were lost in the 11 most affected townships, but only 5,423 have been replaced.
Cyclone Nargis, which hit Myanmar’s southern delta on 2 and 3 May 2008, claimed more than 138,000 lives. It affected 2.4 million people, leaving nearly half of them needing assistance.
at/ds/mw
“The single biggest challenge for humanitarian workers and agencies to continue their activities is resources – funds,” Bishow Parajuli, the UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, told IRIN from Yangon.
Assistance from some sources – including Australia, the UK, US and European Union – had increased, but a number of other donors scaled back their commitment after the initial relief period, Parajuli said.
“Though there was good support during the relief period, the recovery support did not come at the same level as we hoped for,” he said.
He also urged the Myanmar authorities to support humanitarian agencies’ efforts, particularly with respect to providing visas and access to the delta for all aid workers.
“We will keep advocating for unhindered access to people in need of humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Since the category four storm struck, extensive relief efforts helped people get back on their feet, but residents still need help in several areas, including drinking water, shelter and livelihoods.
Over the past two years, humanitarian agencies have provided nearly 1,600 water storage tanks and distributed 90,000 ceramic water filters, but a prolonged dry spell this year may result in a shortage of drinking water, Parajuli said.
According to UN Habitat, about 180,000 homes received cash or materials to repair and rebuild, but another 150,000 families still require shelter support.
Hazard prone
“Given that coastal communities are prone to hazards and the fact that the maximum number of deaths resulted from a lack of safe shelters during Cyclone Nargis, it is paramount to keep in mind the possible consequences should another cyclone make landfall in the region,” said Srinivasa Popuri, head of UN Habitat in Myanmar.
Photo: UN Habitat Myanmar  |
| Community involvement is key in many areas of the delta |
Popuri warned that the temporary shelters provided during the relief efforts had lasted through two monsoon seasons, and with the upcoming monsoons in May, he warned, “these deteriorated materials cannot be considered of much practical value at this time”.
Parajuli said many residents still suffered economic hardship after the cyclone wiped out their livelihoods. Agencies have provided seeds, farming equipment and fishing boats, but residents need more opportunities in the agriculture and fishing sectors.
The Monthly Recovery Update said the funding needed for livelihoods and shelter in 2009 was US$158 million, but only $63.5 million – or 40 percent – was raised. It reported that 227,000 buffaloes and cows were lost in the 11 most affected townships, but only 5,423 have been replaced.
Cyclone Nargis, which hit Myanmar’s southern delta on 2 and 3 May 2008, claimed more than 138,000 lives. It affected 2.4 million people, leaving nearly half of them needing assistance.
at/ds/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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