Sector Status

Logistics

WFP is the designated lead for the logistics cluster.

Coordinated In-Country Response (For more detailed Situation Reports for each cluster please check the HIC website http://myanmar.humanitarianinfo.org/ )

Myanmar logistics cluster website: http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a/

Yangon Airport remains the primary hub. Myanmar officials have requested one day’s notice be given for clearance of airlifts through the airport. All chartered flights require landing permission at Yangon International Airport (RGN) from the MOFA. The template for all procedures is available at http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a. The Cluster Lead continues to call upon partners to provide cargo forecasts. Capacity at the airport to receive, process and clear flights still limited. Yangon remains main entry point for aid primarily by air, but road and sea access is reopening.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Sen. Gen. Than Shwe in the new capital of Naypyidaw on Friday (May 23) and the junta leader agreed to allow “all” aid workers into Myanmar. (MSNBC, May 23) Aid groups have reacted cautiously, saying that details were still unclear and stressing the need to have access beyond Yangon. (AFP, May 23) Ban said officials agreed to allow the Yangon airport to be used as a logistical hub for distribution. (CNN, May 23)

US, Great Britain and France have navy ships in nearby waters loaded with relief, but it is unclear if junta will let them in. (AFP, May 23)

World Vision says the priority is to get logistics staff into Yangon to make sure the supply pipeline runs smoothly. (CNN, May 23)

ASEAN has agreed to lead the international assistance effort. An ASEAN/UN donor conference will be held in Yangon on May 25. (DFID, May 22)

ASEAN, the UN and junta will jointly set up a nine-member core group to run what ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan called a “coalition of mercy.” The three parties will commission three officials each into the core group. The core group will begin operations after the May 25 conference. (Nation, May 22)

The logistics cluster is now operating a 4,000 square meter warehouse in Yangon (managed by DHL), along with a fleet of 30 trucks, four barges (200-800 MT) with four barge pushers, and two boats (300 and 600 MT). In five local hubs, (Pyapon, Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun, Labutta and Pathein) six Mobile Storage Units have been or are being constructed. (OCHA, May 22)

As part of the Bangkok-Yangon air bridge, Thailand’s Don Muang (former international) airport is the main staging area for foreign relief to Myanmar. The operations hub will be managed by WFP. The Cluster has secured the use of the hub for 3 months. The Cluster says that all cargo must be palletized and have a fumigation certificate. (LC, May 22)

Aid agencies report customs clearance in Yangon is improving and relief consigned to NGOs is arriving without government obstruction. (USAID, May 21)

Logistics hubs in Myanmar:

Labutta: Four warehouses in place - one for logistics cluster and three for WFP

Bogale: Identified space, building up two wikhalls

Pyapon: Identified one space close to the river and looking for a second

Pathein: Identified space, under negotiation

Mawlamyinegyun: under assessment (OCHA, May 21)

Myanmar has allowed 10 WFP helicopters to deliver emergency supplies. The first helicopter was sent to Yangon May 22, but the remaining nine may face several days of delays as they are flown in from various locations. The helicopters are capable of carrying 3 MT of relief into the delta. (DPA, May 21)

The humanitarian community says 500,000 people received some form of international assistance. This is substantially less that the 2.4 million estimated to be affected of whom more than half (1.4 million) are in severely affected areas requiring prioritized assistance. It is clear that the emergency phase is set to continue for some time. (OCHA, May 19)

The Logistics Cluster in Yangon has secured a dedicated fleet of 30 trucks for inland road transport in Myanmar. A key limiting factor is that most bridges in Irrawaddy can only handle a 5-ton truck and heavy vehicles will severely damage existing roads. Furthermore, three barges with a capacity of 200 - 800 MT will be operating out of the ports of Yangon and Pathein, covering the eastern and the western parts of the Irrawaddy delta respectively. (OCHA, May 20)

Heavy rains are continuing and the conditions for road transportation remain poor in delta areas. UN cautions that roads affected by the cyclone will deteriorate as monsoon rains increase. (OCHA, May 22)

A number of key roads are reported to be in bad condition, including Kyayklat to Bogale and Myaungmya to Labutta. The two bridges previously reported as damaged between Yangon and Bogale have been repaired. (WFP, May 18)

The 22-mile long road from Pyapon to Bogalay is narrow and in poor condition. Trucks carrying relief cargos were recommended not to travel at night, but make a night stop in Pyapon instead. (OCHA, May 21)

World Vision reported the following traveling times:

Yangon – Kyaiklat: 3 hours by road

Yangon – Bogale: 4.5 hours by road

Yangon – Pyapon: 3.5 hours by road

Pyapon –Mawlamyinegyun: 1.5 hours from Pyapon by river by motorized boat (OCHA, May 16)

Main road from Yangon to Pathein is in good condition. (UN, May 15) The Kyayklat – Bogale and the Myaungmya – Labutta roads are in poor condition. (UNJLC, May 15)

There are currently 109 national UN staff present in affected areas, and 100 international UN staff in Yangon.

Food

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. So far, WFP's operation has received US$8.5 million in confirmed contributions, including over US$5 million from the UN’s CERF. (OCHA, May 16)

FAO says the already severe food security situation is further worsening due to food shortages and high food prices. Out of 2.4 million affected people, hundreds of thousands in the remote areas of the Irrawaddy Delta still do not have sufficient food to eat. With regular access to food disrupted after cyclone Nargis hit the delta, sharply rising food prices in the other parts of the country are posing a risk to national food security. However, based upon initial observations carried out by FAO staff, there still seems to be plenty of food available in markets outside the delta. Poor people in Myanmar spend on average 60 to 70 percent of their household budget on food, and they can not afford to buy the same quantities of food at the present high prices. (FAO, May 23)

WFP has dispatched food to eight townships in and around Yangon and seven (Bogale, Labutta, Pyapon, Kyaiklat, Maubin, Ngaputaw and Pathein) in the Irrawaddy delta. WFP has now dispatched enough food to the affected areas to feed over 340,000 people with a two-week ration of rice. High energy biscuits for over 107,000 children and beans have also been dispatched. WFP now estimates that 304,000 people have received a first ration of food since the cyclone struck. Ready-to-eat meals - made predominantly from rice and beans and sufficient to feed 7,000 people - have arrived in Yangon and have been received by WFP. A large quantity has already been dispatched by barge to Labutta and to some of the worst-affected parts of the delta. (WFP, May 22)

271 MT of rice arrived to Bogalay jetty on 20 May, of which 197 MT was immediately allocated among cluster partners for distribution, to cover 33,000 beneficiaries in 2 towns and 27 villages. Renting light vehicles and trucks for distribution is a challenge in Bogalay as too few are available and handcarts have been used instead. Sufficient space has not been identified yet for 10 wikhalls. (OCHA, May 22)

The Minister of Commerce has granted WFP permission to buy an initial 10,000 MT of rice through its usual suppliers, as part of the agreement for delivery of food assistance for 6 months in the delta. To feed the 750,000 people for 3 months, as planned in the Flash Appeal, will require 55,000 MT of rice of which only 50 percent may be procured in country. (OCHA, May 21)

The Labutta local food cluster has prepared a food distribution plan through 12 frontier outposts for 51 entire village tracts, and direct distribution to camps. WFP, UNDP and UNICEF will collaborate in the distribution. 13,799 beneficiaries in 15 villages around Labutta were reached with food distributions. WFP, UNDP, PACT, MSF-Holland and Merlin distributed 12.4 MT of rice, 0.6 MT of high-energy business and 0.072 MT of vegetable oil. (OCHA, May 21)

While the Food Cluster is providing food assistance in six townships of Irrawaddy Division (Bogale, Labutta, Kyaiklat, Maubin, Ngapudaw, Pyapon), there are still villages not reached due to transport and access constraints. 65,615 MT of food commodities are needed to support beneficiaries within the 6-month Emergency Response Operation. (OCHA, May 21)

WFP emergency food assistance rations will be composed of:

Rice 400g per day per person

Pulses 100g per day per person

Vegetable oil 30g per day per person

Iodized salt 5g per day per person

The monthly relief food basket for a family of five includes 60 kg of rice, 15 kg of pulses, 4.5 kg of oil and 0.75 kg of iodized salt. High-energy biscuits are to be provided for children under five years of age. (OCHA, May 20)

The daily ration will meet a minimum daily requirement of 2,100 kilocalories, composed of rice, pulses, vegetable oil, and salt. Ready-to-eat food (e.g. high energy biscuits, rice-lentil mix and supplementary foods for young children). (OCHA, May 16)

WFP is establishing three sub-offices in the Irrawaddy region and has relocated national staff members from the north to the affected areas in the south. Two sub-offices have been established in Labutta and Bogale.

Shelter

UNHCR is the designated lead for the shelter cluster. UNHCR will support the IFRC, which has been designated as the in-country lead for the cluster.

Out of the US$187 million Flash Appeal, UNHCR is asking for some US$6 million to help some 250,000 people with temporary shelter materials.

Of the 2.4 million affected by Cyclone Nargis, it is estimated that 1.4 million are located in the most severely affected townships of the delta region. However, Yangon was also badly hit with some 680,000 living in severely affected areas. (OCHA, May 21)

OCHA says estimates suggest that temporary settlements may now be sheltering over 550,000 people in Irrawaddy and Yangon. This is a mixture of both official and unofficial temporary settlements. (OCHA, May 18) In the delta, 150,000 people are living in 120 temporary settlements. (DFID, May 22)

An independent source estimates that 110,000 persons are living in temporary settlements in 14 townships. Of these, 70% are sheltering in monasteries, 28% in public buildings and 2% in tented camps. The highest numbers of homeless people in temporary settlements are in Labutta (34,000), Bogale (15,500), Myaungmya (12,000) and Pyapon (9,700) townships in Irrawaddy, and Kungyangon township (20,000) in Yangon Division. (OCHA, May 22)

Additional assessment data reinforce previous assessments informing of an estimated 239 temporary formal and informal settlements in the worst affected areas of Yangon and the delta region. It is important to note that the majority of temporary settlements are in Buddhist monasteries, while the minority are in tented camps. Official tented camps are in Labutta, Bogale, Pathein, Maubin, and Myaungmya. The remainder of settlements are in other public buildings, including schools. The formal camps are being serviced by the Government, while non-formal camps are variously receiving services from Government, MRCS, INGO, NGO, local CBOs, faith-based organizations and private citizens. In the Irrawaddy delta, it is estimated that 91,000 people are sheltered in settlements in their townships of origin, while 25,000 have been displaced to settlements in other townships. In such cases, movements are from Labutta to Myaungmya and Pathein, from Bogale and Pyapon to Maubin, and from Ngaputaw to Pathein. (OCHA, May 21)

Survivors from 54 villages in Mawlamyinegyun township had arrived back to their native villages. A ship carrying relief supplies and medical specialists called at Shaukchaung and Myattha Ywama village-tracts where relief supplies were distributed to over 9,000 storm survivors. Specialists provided treatment on the ship to 200 patients. Three 1000 KW generators were donated to monasteries. (OCHA, May 22)

In Labutta, the authorities announced that there are now 12 tented relief settlements, which plan to operate for 6 months, and that all other temporary shelters in Labutta town would be closed down by 9 June. (OCHA, May 21)

The population of Mawlamyinegyun before the cyclone was 346,000 and 4,463 persons were killed, 6,075 are still missing, and 76,277 have been made homeless. (OCHA, May 18)

Shelter cluster has standardized three types of kits among partners. The first kit is primarily a tool kit. This will contain tools needed for fixing or rebuilding a shelter. This kit is to be distributed to a group of 10 or more households, to be shared among the households. The second kit is a basic building material kit and will consist of tarpaulin, rope etc. This is to be distributed one per household. The third kit will be a Non-Food Items kit. (OCHA, May 17)

Shelter cluster has use of a warehouse at old International Airport in Bangkok, one warehouse outside the airport and one warehouse in Yangon.

The cluster plans to reach 200,000 households in a 2-3 week timeframe out of an estimated 300,000 affected households. (OCHA, May 14)

In Ngaputaw, 46 percent of the population in the township was affected by the cyclone and 49 percent of houses suffered some damage. Sixteen temporary shelters were opened near affected areas and four in Pathein. (WHO, May 17)

Health

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. Cluster projects submitted to the CERF amount to US$4 million. (OCHA, May 15)

MoH reports that 90,000 outpatients and 10 000 inpatients have been treated in affected areas till May 18. There have been 2887 mild and 124 severe diarrhea cases. In a population of 1.5 million, approximately 200 diarrhea cases per day is within the range seen in previous years. (WHO, May 20)

With monsoon rains increasing health risks to survivors, WHO has rushed more supplies to Myanmar to prevent disease outbreaks. Displacement of population, overcrowding in temporary shelters and lack of safe water will increase the risk of communicable diseases. WHO is also urging psychosocial support for cyclone survivors. (WHO, May 23)

Diarrheal diseases, malaria and dengue fever are diseases endemic to Myanmar and are among those being monitored. (WHO, May 23)

WHO international experts for emergency health management, early warning and alert systems for disease surveillance and logistics are in Myanmar. WHO has provided medical supplies including 3 million tablets of various antibiotics, 12 800 kg bleaching powder and 36 000 water purification tablets, 20 000 insecticides treated bed nets, insecticides and oral rehydration salts. Twenty Inter-agency Emergency Health Kits have been sent to Myanmar, containing medicines for common diseases and medical devices for primary health care workers. Each kit provides essential medicines and supplies to treat 10 000 people for three months. (WHO, May 23)

Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Deputy Regional Director for South-East Asia, is heading the Myanmar emergency operations for WHO. (WHO, May 23) WHO has provided financial and operational support to 350 rapid response teams and medical teams of the MoH. (WHO, May 23)

Based on WHO’s experience with disasters, 30-50% of the cyclone affected population could suffer psychological distress. There is a need to provide psychological and social support to the affected population through trained health workers. (WHO, May 23)

IOM doctors are now treating over 100 victims of Cyclone Nargis every day from an operational hub in Bogalay. (IOM, May 23)

According to CWS and other aid groups, elderly and children are beginning to die of dysentery in some areas because of a lack of clean drinking water. (CWS, May 23)

Current MoH efforts are focusing on prevention of waterborne diseases by providing clean water, food and shelter. Immunization for measles and polio is ongoing in the relief shelters. In view of the lack of transport facilities for many health workers, MOH invited partners to assist in transporting midwives to outlying areas for regular childhood vaccination services. Health care services are being provided by MOH staff at hospitals, in 12 relief settlements, and through mobile teams. Three medical boats with 34 doctors are now providing health services in the delta area, and 390 mobile teams are in the field to improve access to and coverage of health care. Teams provide medical care, referral of severely injured patients and provision of WASH supplies.

Five international medical teams are providing medical care and support to national health-care staff in the affected areas of Irrawaddy and Yangon Divisions. The Thai team is in Myaungmya, the Indian team in Bogale and Pyapon, the Chinese team in Kungyangon and Dedaye, the Bangladeshi team in Wakema and the Lao team in Kyauktan. The sixth team, from Singapore, is expected to arrive today. (OCHA, May 22)

Two medical teams were sent on May 22 under the coordination of ASEAN and will stay for two weeks. (DPA, May 22)

UNICEF currently has 12 public health professionals deployed in seven townships in Irrawaddy and seven public health professionals to eight townships in Yangon for ongoing assessment, provision of health and sanitation supplies, responding to emerging needs and monitoring of UNICEF assistance. Merlin continues to expand its services in Labutta. It currently covers 20 villages and has 11 mobile teams in place as well as four static clinics. In order increase coverage, Merlin has added a boat to serve as a mobile operations base. Prior to the cyclone, Merlin had a large network of 570 community workers some of whom perished and many are still missing. The community workers are trained in basic disease surveillance. Merlin will also focus efforts on reactivating sub-rural health centers in their existing project areas. In conjunction with distribution of relief supplies to affected areas, WHO is providing survival kits of basic items to health volunteers working in affected areas. (OCHA, May 22)

IOM has had two mobile health teams in Bogale Township treating survivors, with each team reaching on average 100 persons per day. Teams have been able to access areas by boat that had not been reached by other relief workers, including Malawt and Magoo village tracts, and Thakan village, where a mobile clinic treated survivors from neighboring villages. Pale and Myankagon village tracts were also reached. The Department of Health and UNICEF have been providing IOM teams with emergency medical supplies as needed. IOM is dispatching three additional medical relief teams to Bogale and Mawlamyinegyun. (OCHA, May 21)

Additional essential medicine and diarrhea management drugs (ORS, Zinc, Ringer lactate and Doxycycline) procured by UNICEF to treat 100,000 diarrhea cases including 15,000 severe cases arrived in Yangon. UNICEF distributed additional supply of 3,000 family kits and essential drugs to treat 2,500 children with common diseases to the affected people in nine townships in Yangon. (OCHA, May 21)

The national professional membership organizations the Myanmar Medical Association, Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Association and Myanmar Health Assistant Association are auxiliaries to the national response. (OCHA, May 21)

International medical teams from Thailand, India, China and Lao PDR are now working with national health professionals in affected areas. (OCHA, May 21)

Mental health and addressing mental-health needs continue to be a concern for cluster partners. MOH has assigned mental-health professionals to some of the areas, and specialists from Thailand have also been mobilized. Child Protection cluster partners’ Child-Friendly Spaces provide some support to children in affected areas. (OCHA, May 21)

Dedaye Township Hospital was badly damaged but the hospital is still functioning. All eight Rural Health Centers and 20 Sub-Centers were also seriously damaged. CESVI has distributed emergency kits to the Township Hospital and will provide to the Maternal and Child Health Centre, four Rural Health Centers and eight Sub-Centers. (OCHA, May 21)

Reliable reports of severe watery diarrhea continue, but the number of cases is still within the normal seasonal range. A reliable early warning system has been put in place by the MoH, UN and NGOs in the affected areas. Every possible action to prepare for a potential outbreak is being taken as all risk factors are present. With the upcoming rainy season dengue fever is also expected, however the current situation poses a more serious outbreak. (OCHA, May 20)

Myanmar health authorities are providing daily reports on disease cases from the affected townships. These are being provided by Divisional Health Directors to the MOH Central Epidemiological Unit (CEU). MOH has a team of high level officials working out of Yangon General Hospital responsible for planning, managing and coordinating the overall emergency response in health. MOH is expanding coverage beyond hospitals to outlying affected areas by sending health assistants and midwives to the delta region. Social and moral support is needed and while a few NGOs are providing psychosocial support, their capacity to respond is limited. (OCHA, May 20)

The MoH is focusing on cross-sectoral prevention measures, such as ensuring clean water, food and shelter, to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, as water-borne diseases routinely peak in the months of May and June. (WHO, May 20)

Health supplies continue to reach key hospitals in the major centers, yet delivery of this assistance beyond the hospitals remains a challenge. At least 50% of health structures are damaged or destroyed and restricted access continues to hamper efforts. (OCHA, May 20)

There is an urgent need to provide safe delivery space within settlements for pregnant women. UNICEF is working to provide temporary safe delivery space and has already sent delivery kits to the affected townships. (OCHA, May 20)

WHO has supplied one emergency health kit to the Maubin Hospital, which is functioning as a referral hospital for the affected areas. MOH has redeployed 10 medical doctors and 12 nurses from Mandalay and Yangon General Hospital to Maubin Hospital as well as three Public Health Officers. (OCHA, May 20)

Three medical ships with 34 doctors are providing health services in the delta area. Another 390 mobile teams are in the field to improve access to health services. Government Health professionals are also providing services in 12 ‘forefront’, ‘middle’ and ‘rear’ relief camps. (WHO, May 20)

Polio and measles immunization in temporary shelters continue. Sufficient measles vaccines are in stock. (WHO, May 20)

In Dedaye township, the hospital is functioning even though its roof was blown away. All eight rural health centers and 20 sub-centers were badly damaged according to an INGO report. (WHO, May 20)

WHO has provided more than 65 MT of medical drugs, supplies and equipment. (WHO, May 20)

Health partners are to train up to 2000 volunteers in the field of disease prevention and surveillance of communicable diseases.

Cluster reports have expressed concern on the referral of complicated mental health cases. IOM also plans to have an active role in providing mental health and psychosocial support.

UNAIDS reports that all anti-retroviral therapy (ART) services are functioning and providing the necessary services to the HIV-positive community. The Myanmar Positive Group in collaboration with local community organizations such as Phoenix group and with support from HIV/AIDS Alliance and UNDP and other organizations working with self-help groups such as AFXB are tracking all their members and organizing to ensure that relief supplies, including shelter rehabilitation, are being provided. (WHO, May 18)

The Health Cluster is supporting, with medical supplies, 200 extended first-aid posts run by doctors from the MoH and MRCS volunteers. (WHO, May 18)

The health partners are supplying 80 basic health units to the health centers in rural areas. This is in addition to the basic malaria treatment module which is also being supplied. (WHO, May 18)

IFRC has mobilized four basic health clinics (emergency response units).

Five out of six station hospitals in Ngaputaw township are reported destroyed. However, the township hospital is functional. Referral cases are being sent to Pathein township hospital. (OCHA, May 17) The hospital in Maubin is being used as a referral hospital for Pyapon, Bogale, Kyaiklat and Dedaye townships in Irrawaddy Division. Some cases of snakebite have been reported.

The health cluster has established three operations centers in the townships of Pathein, Labutta and Bogale. (WHO, May 17)

The MoH has begun measles vaccination campaigns for children in relief camps between the ages of 9 months to 5 years. Those injured are being immunized by tetanus-toxoid (TT) vaccine. In Laputta, UNICEF has vaccinated around 1,000 children between the ages of nine months and five years against measles. UNICEF says nearly 30 percent of the township are suffering from diarrhea or dysentery. (UNICEF, May 21)

Nutrition

Before Cyclone Nargis, the hard-hit Irrawaddy region had around 30 percent chronic and 9 percent acute malnutrition. (May-11, OCHA)

The National Nutrition Centre of the MoH now participates in the Nutrition Cluster. A qualitative rapid assessment of infant feeding in temporary shelters in Labutta found high acceptability of wet nursing and low rates of exclusive breastfeeding in infants up to 6 months. (OCHA, May 21)

Save the Children says that some 30,000 children under the age of five in cyclone-affected areas were acutely malnourished before the cyclone hit, of those the NGO believes several thousand are at risk of death in the next two to three weeks due to a lack of food. (DFID, May 18)

MSF-Switzerland has been carrying out nutritional screening of under-five children in Twantay township. Results indicate an approximate 3 percent rate of severe malnutrition. (OCHA, May 15)

The National Nutrition Center and MoH have planned a Vitamin A supplementation campaign for all children aged from 6 to 59 months in collaboration with UNICEF. (OCHA, May 15)

Myanmar currently faces difficulties in providing adequate food to poor and vulnerable families. Despite being a food-surplus country, one-third of children remain malnourished; one-fifth are born underweight. High chronic malnutrition rates indicate a worsening of the food security situation due to insufficient nutritious food, poor access to health facilities, inadequate water and sanitation facilities, poor maternal and child care and limited livelihood opportunities. In the 2007/08 UNDP Human Development Index, Myanmar is placed 132nd out of 177 countries. (WFP, May 16)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

UNICEF leads the water/sanitation cluster and has launched an appeal for an initial US$8.2 million. The agency is carrying out needs assessments in water/sanitation with 16 NGOs.

Cluster partners are distributing chlorine solution sufficient to disinfect 6 million liters of water per day. Challenges have been encountered in the construction of sanitation facilities due to high water table in the delta areas.

The Cluster has finalized a 4-month initial response action plan based on an assumption of 1.5 million affected people, including 0.5 million in temporary relief settlements.

WHO continues to respond to requests for support for water purification in affected areas of Yangon Division, and has provided bleaching powder. (OCHA, May 22)

Agencies have agreed to be WASH cluster focal points for each township. For Irawaddy Division: Bogale (GAA), Dedaye (CESVI), Kyaiklat (MRCS/IFRC), Labutta (Merlin), Mawlamyinegyun (MRCS), Pyapon (CDA). For Yangon Divison: Dala (AMI), Dagon (WV), Khawmu (UNICEF), Kungyangon (CDA), Seikgyikanaungto (AMI), Kyauktan (CDA), Hlaingtharyar (WV), Twantay (AMI). (OCHA, May 21)

The Health and WASH clusters are strengthening their collaboration to ensure rapid response to cases of severe diarrhea. The WASH cluster is ready to send ORS and chlorination supplies with its teams to the areas where cases have been reported. (OCHA, May 21)

WASH cluster partners recommended the following contents for a standard family hygiene kit: soap 1,250 g (250g/person/month), soap bar for laundry 1,000 g (200g/person/month), bucket with lid 50 liters, jerrycan 10 liters, mug 1 unit, toothbrush 5 units, toothpaste 150g, nail clipper 1 unit, mappies for infants 3 units, potties 1 unit, towels big (1.5' x 3') 2 units, towel small (1.5' x 1') 3 units and sanitary napkins (self supporting) 30 units.

There is shortage of sanitary facilities and water containers in Labutta and Myaungmya townships. Coverage of WaterGuard disinfectant solution appears to be good. (OCHA, May 19)

IFRC will start operating a water and sanitation unit for 40 000 people.

In Laputta, a portable water treatment plant was providing treated water to displaced people in 228 tents. The situation in outlying villages in Laputta Township, where reports indicate significant numbers of people remain, is even worse than in Laputta proper. (UNICEF, May 18)

The number of latrines is increasing, but is still insufficient and personal hygiene is poor, with a lack of soap and hand-washing facilities. Water continues to be available, as there is sufficient water in 10 ponds, which can be effectively treated by water purification chemicals, which are being provided by UNICEF and the Disaster Management Committee (DMC). (UNICEF, May 19)

The Cluster agreed, in this phase, to adopt the following indicators: Safe drinking water: 3 liters per capita per day, “Clear and fresh” water (bathing, general purpose, not necessarily bacteriologically pure): 10 liters per day in temporary settlement settings. Latrines (or safe excreta disposal facility): 1/100 people in 60 days time, 1/50 in 90 days, 1/36 persons per day after 120 days, and thereafter at a rate of 5,000 latrines provided per month until the target of 1 latrine for 20 persons is reached. Hygiene promotion: 1 community per Hygiene Promoter per 2,000 persons in 60 days, and 1 per 500 persons in 90 days. (OCHA, May 17)

Agriculture

While Agriculture and Early Recovery remain separate clusters, they are collaborating doing strategic planning jointly.

Only a few weeks remain until the rice planting season begins. FAO has already sourced rice seeds for procurement from inside Myanmar. (FAO, May 23)

Around 50 percent of cattle and buffalos in 10 surveyed townships perished during the storms. These livestock are essential to small rice farmers as draught animals for plowing the paddy fields. Their manure is the only source of nitrogen fertilizers used by farmers. (FAO, May 23)

Paddy fields intruded by sea water will need to be provided with salt-tolerant rice varieties, in addition to water pumps for flushing out the sea water. Land tillers are needed to repair embankments and prepare the paddy fields for planting. (FAO, May 23)

The government estimates the costs of rehabilitation at US$243 million for agriculture and US$25 million for livestock. Additional resources are needed for the fishery sector for which the losses are difficult to estimate at this stage. As part of the UN Flash appeal, FAO has estimated initial needs for agriculture, livestock and fishery totaling US$10 million. Actual requirements are much higher, and will be detailed and reflected in the revision of the appeal expected by early June. (FAO, May 23)

UNDP Cash for Work programs are underway in the rice growing area of Kyaiklat in the Irrawaddy delta. Initial work includes clearing of ponds and land preparation to support farmers in their efforts to plant crops before the monsoon season. Informal preparations are also underway in Bogalay. (UNDP, May 23)

Rice planting requires significant land preparation within the next few weeks, before the monsoon is advanced. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation reports that the current loss of rice is only 2.3% (718,400 MT) of total production in 2007/2008, although rice stored for household consumption has most likely been lost in the most affected areas. Extensive damage to land and agricultural infrastructure risks the loss of the November harvest because planting must be done within five to seven weeks. If this planting season is lost then assistance would be required for some months to come. In addition this could also potentially disrupt the local economy and livelihood opportunities for the communities in the delta. FAO has confirmed there are enough seeds for planting in-country, but fertilizer is still needed.

130,000 farming households were affected in Irrawaddy Division and 117,000 in Yangon Division. As the affected area is the nation’s granary, food security in the country and especially in the cyclone-affected area is of major concern. The rice planting season is beginning and the FAO estimates a need for 50,000 tons of rice and 15,000 tons of fertilizer, covering 250,000 hectares.

UNDP and FAO are in discussion with Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cottage Industry Department and Department of Development Affairs for assistance activities.

The Irrawaddy delta has an extensive fishery industry along its coast. The loss of crops, shrimp farms, fishing ponds, nursery hatcheries, fishing boats and other productive assets has led to increased unemployment of the extreme poor who depend on wage labor for their livelihood. (WFP, May 20)

FAO estimates agriculture rehabilitation will cost $243 million plus $20 million to replace livestock. The five worst-affected areas account for 65 percent of rice production, 20 percent of rubber plantations, 50 percent of poultry, 40 percent of pigs and 80 percent of fish. The FAO estimates that 20 percent of rice fields – 650,000 of 3.2 million hectares – in the five disaster zones were damaged.

Child Protection

UNICEF leads the protection cluster.

Pre-cyclone data said one-third of children under five suffer from some form of malnutrition. While food supply to affected areas has improved over the past few days, huge food assistance is urgently required. Children are among the most vulnerable in any disaster and with so many children already malnourished, the lack of nutrition, water, sanitation and shelter can be a lethal combination. (OCHA, May 20)

UNICEF estimates 40 percent of the hardest-hit are children and 2 million children may be need immediate assistance. Other aid groups say children are vulnerable to abuse and recruitment as laborers, sex workers or child soldiers.

The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) asked UNICEF to help lead a national action plan for child protection in emergencies with direct involvement of DSW. A task force has been formed with representatives from DSW, UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision. (OCHA, May 22)

Cluster partners agreed to rename the cluster to reflect the protection of women included in the response plan. The cluster has established a systematic data collection method and finalized a tool for common use by cluster partners. (OCHA, May 21)

The Cluster identified the following priorities: information on the situation of children and services in affected areas for coordination and information sharing, collation and mapping of information on which agencies are working where, and a tool to systematically collect information from individual agencies. (OCHA, May 21)

MRCS will maintain a database on family tracing with technical assistance from the ICRC. UNICEF or SC will host a database on unaccompanied children and other child protection issues. The cluster leads will pass this information on to MRCS per a data exchange agreement to be reached between the agencies. Child Protection partners will continue to monitor interim care and provide follow-up to known cases. Cluster partners are now running 64 Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS). Save the Children plans to run 180 CFS, World Vision 60, and EMDH 20 across Yangon and Irrawaddy divisions. (OCHA, May 21)

Several UNICEF Child Protection staff members are still working in Labutta, Myang Mya and Bogalay. There is serious concern about Labutta, where 648 children are reported separated.

A local NGO cluster partner re-established 870 "Caregiver Circles" in Yangon to provide integrated early childhood development, including a feeding program for more than 9,000 children aged 0-3, and provide a support mechanism for the families. They are usually held in people’s homes, and the cyclone damaged many of these. (OCHA, May 21)

Education

UNICEF leads the education cluster. Immediate priorities have been assessing damages to schools and planning for education to resume on June 2.

The Ministry of Education says 3,000 primary schools were destroyed or damaged, affecting some 500,000 children. OCHA estimates some 2,400 primary schools have been damaged, affecting the education of 360,000 students. UNICEF says 85 percent of educational buildings were damaged.

The Cluster’s rapid assessment identified major needs as the provision of learning materials to affected children and schools and the reconstruction of school buildings. Affected communities are still dealing with survival issues and there remains a dire need for basic necessities. (OCHA, May 21)

UNICEF will centralize information from cluster partners on the formal education sector while Save the Children will collate information on non-formal education activities, such as early childhood development and support to monastic schools and temporary settlements.

Pre-cyclone data has been gathered, but compilation of data on damaged primary, middle and high schools is ongoing. Assessments on the education needs of children in temporary settlements are pending. (OCHA, May 21)

UNICEF says an unknown number of teachers were killed or are missing and is training volunteer teachers, providing as many as 300,000 school kits and setting up temporary schools.

The Education team in Bogalay has contacted the Township Education Office and is compiling information on requirements for roofing sheets for schools that can be repaired within the next 2-6 weeks. (UNICEF, May 18)

People living in schools will be relocated to camps to ensure that the new academic year could resume on June 2 per the government’s plans

Telecommunication

Communications equipment is being held by customs authorities in Yangon while clearance is sought.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement says no communications equipment can be imported, and as an alternative delivered to the Resident Coordinator’s office CDMA SIM cards and phones for sale through the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. A maximum of 10 units per agency are offered at a cost of US$1,500 each. The CDMA system is reported to have good coverage in affected areas. (OCHA, May 22)

UNICEF is installing IPSTAR connectivity to Bogalay and the WFP is providing emergency power supply to support communications in Labutta. Both agencies continue to provide technical support to the humanitarian community in Yangon, Laputta, Bogale and Bangkok. (OCHA, May 20)

Installation and repair of communications equipment is ongoing.

Early Recovery

UNDP leads the early recovery cluster. It has established a relay system using road transportation of personnel and supplies into Irrawaddy Division. UNDP has assembled a team to arrange recovery assessments from 1,700 villages.

FAO is funding part of the early damage and needs assessment from own resources (US$638 000), and has received funding of $500 000 from an Italian emergency contribution. Another US$16 million is under active consideration by donors, e.g. the European Commission, the UK Department for International Development, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, Spain and Italy. (FAO, May 23)

A SURGE Team has been requested by UNDP to support the coordination, assessment and strategic planning for early recovery processes.

UNDP sent five national project personnel teams most-affected areas for data collection and strategic planning.

Early Recovery strategy will focus on two components: Immediate Activities, and Early Recovery. Immediate Activities are to organize assistance – including agricultural inputs, livestock and poultry, fishing boats and nets, shelter, sanitation, water collection tanks and village infrastructure – to help farming communities in the delta to prepare for the monsoon planting (early June to July). The Early Recovery component will provide a framework for a long-term recovery plan and will begin in 4-6 weeks. Planning (including data collection and analysis), resource mobilization and programming will begin immediately.

A UNDP field team conducted an assessment in Kyaiklat township and Bogalay. Participation of villagers was limited due to access difficulties. Cluster partners agreed on developing an Action Plan in the next two weeks based on having village communities prioritize their needs.

Partners of various clusters have together examined Cash for Work strategy, feasibility and modalities of implementation. (OCHA, May 20)

As reports of damaged buildings continue to come in, the government has clarified that it is responsible for the rehabilitation of public buildings, but would welcome support from NGOs and other partners.

The upcoming monsoon will exacerbate infrastructure and capacity issues.