Sector Status

Logistics

WFP is the lead of the logistics cluster and is supported by the UNJLC.

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

Yangon Airport remains the primary hub. The template for all procedures is available at http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a.

The Logistics Cluster in Myanmar is offering five types of services to the UN and NGOs: 1) Air cargo facilitation, 2) Temporary storage facilities, 3) Common transport service, 4) Logistics hubs and 5) Logistics information management. (UNJLC, May 26)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Sen. Gen. Than Shwe in the new capital of Naypyidaw on May 23 and the junta leader agreed to allow “all” aid workers into Myanmar. (MSNBC, May 23)

ASEAN has agreed to lead the international assistance effort. (DFID, May 22) ASEAN has established a mechanism to coordinate assistance into Myanmar. A Core Group chaired by the government and also comprised of the UN and ASEAN, will deal with operational issues regarding international assistance. (WHO, May 26) An ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) in collaboration with the UN, has been working on assessments. (WHO, May 26)

Flights are currently arriving at the rate of around 10-15 per day, and these still need to be stepped up further to meet the need. (OCHA, May 26)

Two interagency teams comprising UN, INGO and national NGOs returned from an assessment mission to Bogale and Labutta Districts, visiting a number of townships to assess the current status of coordination. The two groups presented their findings including recommendations. These findings will feed into current planning to operationalize five coordination centers in Labutta, Bogale, Pyapon, Mawlamyinegyun, and Pathein. In the same vein, the Humanitarian Coordinator requested Cluster Leads to identify counterparts in these five locations. The Humanitarian Coordinator advised leads to identify in particular national and international NGO counterparts with appropriate operational capacity in these locations. (OCHA, May 26)

Based on available assessments, 2.4 million people are estimated to have been affected in the 40 most-affected townships (including urban Yangon townships). Of the 2.4 million people affected, an estimated 1,017,000 (42%) people have been reached with some kind of relief support to date, through the combined efforts of MRCS (96,000), UN and INGOs (793,000), and local NGOs and civil society groups (128,000). However, the majority of this assistance has been delivered to people living in Yangon Division. Of the estimated 2 million people in the 15 worst-affected townships, it is estimated that only 470,000 (23%) have been reached. (OCHA, May 24)

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 (total capacity = 2,150 tons), and two boats (300 and 600 MT). One jetty has been identified in Yangon.

Logistics hubs updates:

Mawlanyaingyun: location identified.

Labutta 4 Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) in place and 3 more at location

Pathein: Location identified and under negotiation

Pyapon: 2 MSUs up, 150 pallets received

Bogalay: 2 MSUs up (1 for UNICEF use), 3 MSUs will be erected May 28 and operational as of May 30. 150 pallets received. (LC, May 26)

Air-bridge flights from Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport to Yangon are now underway daily, with the first two on Saturday 24 May. All flights transport inter-agency cargo. The Cluster Lead has reminded partners that a cargo movement request must be made 72 hours before goods can be moved into the country. (OCHA, May 26) 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 is managed by WFP. The Cluster has secured the use of the hub for 3 months. (LC, May 22) The UN has chartered three planes to carry the aid into Myanmar. (BBC, May 24)

According to the Logistics Cluster, the following cluster movement occurred in Yangon from May 20-25: Food: 793 MT, Health: .253 MT, Logistics: 40.025 MT, Nutrition: 83.298 MT, Shelter: 41.668 MT, WASH: 24.805 MT for a grand total of 983.186 MT. (LC, May 26)

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 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) Canada will deliver up to five helicopters to Myanmar via Bangkok. (WFP, May 24)

The fleet of trucks is set up at the inter agency warehouse set up by the cluster. The fleet consists of: 5 trucks of ten feet capacity, 10 trucks of 14 feet capacity, 10 trucks of 22 feet capacity and 5 trucks of 32 feet capacity. (UNJLC, May 26)

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)

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. (OCHA, May 21) 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) Bridges on the road to Labutta are reported to be in bad condition and only passable for maximum 12 ton trucks. (LC, May 26)

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 boat

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. 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 food security. However, 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 appealed for US$50 million for a special operation to ensure a supply chain of relief items as well as emergency telecommunications capacity. (OCHA, May 24)

Over 460,000 people have benefited from 3150 MT of food delivered to date. Cluster partners are operating in 11 townships in Irrawaddy Division and 8 townships in Yangon Division. (OCHA, WHO, May 26) A WFP boat with rice and high-energy biscuits has left for Myanmar. (WHO, May 26)

A rapid assessment of food and nutrition needs will be available by the end of the week. (WHO, May 26)

A WFP-leased carrying 100 MT of rice , 37.5 MT of HEBs, 6.8 MT of Oil, 13 MT of NFIs departed Yangon on Saturday (May 24) and is due to arrive in Pyapon May 25. A second boat carrying 300 MT of rice, 10 MT of Veg. Oil, 5 MT of MRE, 20 MT of HEBs for WFP and 1MT of NFI’s for UNDP, and over 200 MT of logistical support equipment left for Bogalay. (UNJLC, May-23, 25)

Rights groups and residents report some looting and extortion in restive border areas by poorly paid troops worried about food shortages. (Reuters, May 24)

Since the cyclone hit, WFP has dispatched 2,441 MT of food to affected areas, and distributed 1,752 MT of food to 445,480 beneficiaries with varying rations. WFP dispatched 413.7 MT of food to Ayeyarwady Division on 22 May. WFP hub in Labutta distributed 116 MT of rice and 2.69 MT of vegetable oil to 14,549 beneficiaries in 26 villages and 38,776 beneficiaries in 47 camps on 21 May. (OCHA, May-23)

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. (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.

In addition to threatening the 2.4 million cyclone-affected, the FAO says food shortages and higher prices are affecting other parts of food-insecure Myanmar, threatening a national food crisis. (FAO, May 23) More than 140,000 refugees and IDPs displaced by military-ethnic rebel conflicts in eastern Myanmar are facing a drastic cut in aid and the Thailand Burma Border Consortium has issued a US$6.8 million emergency appeal to maintain aid to refugees in camps across the Thai border. (Irrawaddy, May 23)

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. IOM is chairing a temporary shelter working group. (IOM, May 24)

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)

IFRC said Monday (May 26) that at least 1.5 million people remained homeless in the delta. (AP, May 26)

An information manager for the Emergency Shelter cluster arrived in Yangon on Saturday 24 May. Cluster partners have requested that NFIs be pre-packaged in Bangkok before being sent into Myanmar. The cluster continues to target 40% of the affected population over the next four to six weeks, which will involve cluster partners delivering at maximum capacity. (OCHA, May 26)

Some residents say they were forced out of schools where they had sought shelter so that class rooms could be used as polling stations for the referendum vote. (AFP, May 24) There have been other scattered reports of forcible displacement by security troops. The Irrawaddy reported that thousands who sought shelter in Bogalay and Mawlamyinegyun have been forcibly expelled from towns by local officials over the last five to six days. Other reports on the road between Bogalay and Pyapon say that security troops ordered survivors to dismantle makeshift huts they were working on after fleeing their villages. (Irrawaddy, Swissinfo, May 24)

The New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday that 9,200 displaced from 84 villages in Mawlamyinegun who were moved to relief camps in Wakema Township in the delta have been sent back to their villages as part of a resettlement plan.

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 official government 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)

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)

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. The Health Cluster has nominated the INGO Merlin as cluster co-lead with WHO. (OCHA, May-23). 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. (WHO, May 23)

The cluster is establishing a sub-group that will focus on Malaria. (WHO, May 26)

A seventh team of ASEAN national medical experts, this one from the Philippines, has been mobilized to support the national relief response in Myanmar. The Philippines team is due to arrive on Monday May 26. The 30-strong team is expected to be deployed to Pathein. (OCHA, May 24)

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. (OCHA, May 22) There are now 198 health-care workers from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in the cyclone-affected areas. (OCHA, May-23) The Thai team treated more than 2500 patients in the past week. Most cases were for diarrhea, and a third of patients were children. Indonesia, Japan, Belgium will send teams in the next few days. (WHO, May 26).

Mercy Malaysia has sent a four-member team for assessments and training support for doctors. (WHO, May 26)

More than 2000 medical experts from the government and NGOs, plus 39,000 Red Cross and private health workers have been deployed. (WHO, May 24).

Mental health remains a concern. WHO has been working with the government to develop national capacity for psychosocial support even before the cyclone, and plans to build on that work now to increase local capacity. (WHO, May 24) The health cluster is forming a mental health and psychosocial support group, which is likely to be co-chaired by IOM and Merlin. Based on WHO’s experience with disasters, 30-50% of the cyclone affected population could suffer psychological distress. (WHO, May 23)

Eight health cluster partners have established a working group to focus on disease surveillance for early warning and response to outbreaks. To support this group, the WHO Myanmar team has been strengthened with addition of an epidemiologist. (OCHA, May 24)

The health cluster’s joint plan of action for six months is being finalized. It covers both relief and recovery phases and carries contingency provisions in the event of major disease outbreaks. (OCHA, May 24)

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.

UNICEF currently has 12 public health professionals deployed in seven townships in Irrawaddy and seven public health professionals to eight townships in Yangon. (OCHA, May 22)

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)

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. (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)

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

A rapid assessment of food and nutrition needs will be available by the end of the week. (WHO, May 26)

The cluster subgroup on Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) met on 24 May, with the participation of WHO, UNICEF and Save the Children, to discuss the technical standardization of IFE messages and linkages with the Protection of Children and Women cluster. (OCHA, May 26)

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)

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)

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)

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.

There are currently 27 water treatment plants that can provide clean water to approximately 1 million people. (WHO, May 26)

The WASH cluster has finalized the recommended contents for hygiene kits, which are designed for a family of five persons for one month. Two versions of the kits are proposed, depending on whether they are to be supplied in a village setting or in more densely populated temporary settlements. The WASH cluster issued a guidance note to ensure adequate, culturally acceptable sanitary provision for women and girls during the emergency response. The recommendations were developed through consultation with local groups and NGO workers with experience in the delta area. (OCHA, May 26)

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.

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)

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 (12 gallons), 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.

According to WATSAN cluster meeting on May 23, some 27 Mobile Water Treatment Plants with a total capacity of 3.288 cubic meters are now available, or will be soon available in the country. World Vision, Malteser International, SC, MRCS/NEPS, ADRA are some of the NGOs identified as implementing partners. (WATSAN, May-23).

The French Red Cross is providing training for the Myanmar Red Cross Society on the use of mobile water treatment units. Danish and Swedish Emergency Response Units, and THW will provide similar training in the coming weeks to their implementation partners. (OCHA, May-23)

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.

UN emergency appeal includes US$10 million for agriculture. (AP, May 24) 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 technical assistance. (OCHA, May 24)

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.

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

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)

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. Preparations are underway in Bogalay.

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 affected area is of 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.

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)

Protection of children and women

UNICEF leads the protection cluster.

Twenty Child-Friendly Spaces are now functioning in Ayeyarwady and 43 in Yangon divisions and are being used by children affected by the cyclone. A Myanmar version of a one-page flyer on key messages to prevent the separation of children is now available. Protection of Children and Women Cluster partners continue to work on the National Plan of Action for Child Protection in Emergencies. (OCHA, May-23)

Cluster lead UNICEF met with the Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement today and the Minister expressed support for the efforts of Child Protection agencies, particularly their work in registering separated and unaccompanied children, family tracing and reunification. Training for Department of Social Welfare staff on registration, family tracing and reunification will be held this Wednesday 28 May. The cluster continues to advocate for the placement of separated children in interim family-like care, rather than placing children in orphanages. (OCHA, May 26)

UNICEF trying to convince junta not to place at least 2,000 orphaned children into state-run homes. UNICEF says the children should be placed in family environments instead of institutions. (Reuters, May 26)

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)

To help children cope, UNICEF has partnered with NGOs to provide technical assistance for recreational activities, life skills, non-formal education and first aid. (WHO, May 24)

40 percent of the affected population is estimated to be children. (UNICEF, May 26)

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. (OCHA, May 21)

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.

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

The UNICEF Regional Director met with the Minister of Education on Saturday to discuss the actions taken to date regarding the emergency and some future plans. The Minister reiterated the fact that many schools, especially in the delta region, have been damaged and/or destroyed and that support is much needed especially for repair and reconstruction of the affected schools. He was informed of the distribution plan for the roofing sheets and school supplies to the affected schools both in the Yangon and Irrawaddy Divisions. The UNICEF Regional Director emphasized the importance of building back schools safer and more child-friendly, and the need to support families by reducing cost of schooling as much as possible, and the Minister agreed on both points. He also requested for a list of NGOs interested in supporting education efforts in emergency for his review. (OCHA, May 26)

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. (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.

Telecommunication

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)

WFP and UNICEF continue to provide technical support to the humanitarian community in Bangkok and Yangon, and in sub-offices and logistics centers in Labutta, Bogale and Pyapon. International staff has now been able to travel to Bogale to support operations. (OCHA, May 26)

WFP and UNICEF continue to provide technical support to the humanitarian community in Yangon and Bangkok and in sub-offices in Bogale and Laputta. UNICEF has now completed installation of the IPSTAR system for use by humanitarian agencies in Labutta. (OCHA, May-23)

Early Recovery

UNDP leads the early recovery cluster. UNDP has assembled a team to arrange recovery assessments from 1,700 villages.

Following the conference, for the longer term, the Government of Myanmar focused on the scale of rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery efforts likely to be needed, and the immediate requirement to ensure that farming and fishing activities could be resumed as soon as possible. The international community was ready to consider helping the Government of Myanmar in these and other areas. For these purposes, a comprehensive rapid joint assessment of recovery needs, and development of a shared post-disaster recovery and reconstruction plan are indispensable steps. (OCHA, May 26)

UN says the emergency appeal includes US$4.8 million for early recovery efforts. (AP, May 24)

FAO is funding part of the early assessment from own resources (US$638,000), and has received funding of $500,000 from an Italian emergency contribution. US$16 million is under consideration by donors. (FAO, May 23)

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.

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.