CERF has allocated $6 million for 260,000 people affected by Cyclone Giri in Myanmar.
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| A mother and her child in Myanmar[Photo: UN] |
22 November 2010: Some $2.6 million has been allocated for the World Food Programme (WFP) for food assistance to the affected populations. Some $1 million has gone to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for WASH programmes, children’s education, and health response. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has received $839,000 for distribution of emergency shelter material and non food items. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will use $455,000 for restoration of fishers’ livelihoods in cyclone affected areas. Some $251,000 has been allocated to the International Organization of Migration (IOM) for temporary shelter and health care clinics. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been allocated $215,000 for addressing priority health needs. Finally, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will provide life-saving reproductive health care with $152,000.
Cyclone Giri was classified as a category four event on the Saffir-Simpson scale, making landfall in Rakhine State on 22 October. The townships of Kyaukpyu, Myebon, Minbya and Pauktaw were the most severely affected by the storm, which caused severe damage to houses and infrastructure-including roads and bridges in coastal areas. Further damage was also reported in areas further inland, including in Magway Region.
Ahead of the cyclone reaching coastal areas, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (GoRoUoM), in collaboration with the Myanmar Red Cross Society, issued warnings to the population and organized the evacuation of people in coastal areas to safe locations. The Government also immediately mobilized its National Disaster Preparedness Coordination Committee (NDPCC). The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement remained in continuous contact with the international humanitarian community and welcomed support. The Government has confirmed that at least 45 people are dead or missing to date, while 101,923 (increased from 70,975) people remain homeless. At least 20,380 houses were completely destroyed. Approximately 17,500 acres of agricultural lands and nearly 50,000 acres of aquaculture ponds were also destroyed. In total, some 260,000 people are affected.
[Last updated: 15 December 2010]
CERF allocates $2.4 million for flood-affected populations in Myanmar
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| Women buying fish in Myanmar [Photo: IRIN] |
16 July 2010: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will receive $750,000 for the post-flood restoration of food security and livelihoods for 54,000 affected people in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State (NRS). Some $600,000 will go to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the livelihoods of 30,000 vulnerable people, improve shelter and living conditions for 24,600 people, and provide safe water for 48,300 people. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $414,000 to rehabilitate schools benefiting 3,600 children and will provide a water and sanitation (WASH) programme for 100,000 people. Some $400,000 has been allocated to the World Food Programme (WFP) to improve the food security, nutrition status and livelihoods of 19,800 people. Finally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will use $275,000 to provide emergency non-food items and shelter materials to more than 22,000 people.
In June 2010 Northern Rakhine State (NRS) experienced severe floods and landslides due to continuous heavy rains, killing 68 people and causing severe damage to infrastructure and livelihoods in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. Approximately 29,000 families were affected by the floods, of which approximately 20,000 families temporarily sought refuge in the nearby mountains, in public buildings or with host families. While most of the displaced have now returned home, some families are still living with relatives in the area, as their houses were completely destroyed by the floods. Some 900 houses are estimated to have been destroyed. In addition, roads, bridges and culverts in Maungdaw and Buthidaung were severely damaged, further limiting access to the affected population.
Northern Rakhine State (NRS) is situated in the western-most part of Myanmar along the border with Bangladesh. NRS has a total population of approximately 996,000 and covers a large geographical area characterized by limited accessibility. Generally, NRS ranks below the national average on most demographic and socio-economic indicators. The current emergency response aside, there are continuing needs for assistance in education, water and sanitation (WASH) and health care. Food insecurity is also widespread, with 85 percent of household expenditure on average devoted to food. Limitations imposed by the Government of Myanmar have limited the number of humanitarian organizations operating in NRS.
[Last updated: 26 July 2010]