Sector Status

Logistics

The World Food Program (WFP) is the cluster lead, supported by the UNJLC. UN says there is a pressing need for funding for the logistics operation. Only US$20 million of the US$50 million required have been received. These funds are needed to extend the outreach of the operation from the hubs to those villages that have yet to receive assistance. The cluster is 12 percent funded in the Flash Appeal according to FTS. (OCHA, June 9)

Yangon Airport remains the primary hub. The template for all procedures is at http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a. Bangkok’s former international Don Muang Airport (DMK) is the main staging area for foreign relief with daily flights to Yangon. Air capacity is 190 MT a day. (LC, June 6) The cluster is reducing the asset capacity out of DMK to one IL76 and one AN 12. (LC, June 10)

The logistics cluster is operating a 4,000 square meter (sqm) inter-agency warehouse in Yangon, a fleet of 33 trucks with four barges with four barge pushers (total capacity = 2,650 tons), and three boats (total capacity = 1,250 MT). 1 jetty identified in Yangon. Transit time to the delta by barge is between three and six days. WFP says it has a fleet of some 30 boats to help with deliveries in the delta. (IRIN, June 3)

Cargo dispatched from the cluster from May 20 to June 12 totals 2,648.51 MT. (UNJLC, June 12)

All the goods for the Claudia vessel have been released today from the port facilities. A boat is loading for Mawlanyaingyun. (UNJLC, June 12)

Only seven government helicopters are operating in the delta. WFP now has 10 helicopters. To date, WFP helicopters have reached 26 locations that were previously not accessible for assistance, carrying 65 MT of food and 10 MT of non-food items including shelter materials, as well as assisting medical teams to reach the most remote areas. (OCHA, June 12)

Two helicopters operated out of Bogalay delivering food to Kyein Chaun Gyii, Seik ma and Ah Sha Phyar. Two other helicopters operated out of Labutta delivering relief materials to Salu Seik, Sin Chay Yar and Pain Nae Kone. A MERLIN medical team was also transported. (UNJLC, June 12)

The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment/PONJA launched on June 9 and deployment of assessment teams on June 10. 160 assessment personnel in 32 teams were dispatched to Yangon Division and 15 personnel from three hub coordination teams to Pathein, Bogalay and Pyapon on June 10. On June 11 35 personnel in 7 teams departed to villages in Yangon, 125 personnel in 25 teams departed for Irrawaddy Division and 10 personnel from two hub coordination teams left for Labutta and Wakema. The assessment involves humanitarian needs and damage components: a Village Tract Assessment (VTA) and a Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA), for which field surveys in the 30 affected townships are planned between 10-19 June. (OCHA, June 12)

UN agencies report no major issues with obtaining visas, though in some cases delays of up to 10 days have been reported. Overall, 195 visas have been issued to UN staff involved in the ongoing operation as of June 10. International NGOs are experiencing greater difficulties, with visa requests in some cases pending for up to three weeks. Despite some problems, it should be noted that several NGOs that have not worked in Myanmar before and do not have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government have still been issued with visas. Merlin has received 16 travel authorizations for presence in the affected areas until the end of August. UN staff have been travelling to the Irrawaddy delta in increasing numbers with approval and more than 90 international UN staff have visited the affected-areas as of June 9. (OCHA, June 12)

The Minister of Planning briefed UN agencies and NGOS on “Guiding Principles for carrying out aid and assistance activities for the cyclone victims” on June 10. IASC members have expressed concern that, if followed, it will negatively affect ongoing emergency relief operations. Organizations are to seek approval for their activities from the relevant line Ministry and the TCG. Visas and importation of relief items are to be authorized by line Ministries and the TCG. Detailed listings of relief supplies and distribution plans are to be shared with line Ministries and Township Coordination Committees (TCC). Supplies are to be ‘temporarily kept in Yangon’. Domestic travel arrangements are to be shared with line Ministries and TCC are to be informed of travel arrangements. (OCHA, June 12)

There are currently four MRCS warehouses in Yangon and four logistics bases are currently being established at MRCS hubs in Labutta, Bogalay, Pathein and Pyapon. (OCHA, June 12)

Logistics hubs storage updates:

Mawlanyaingyun: 2,000 tons available in MAPT w/h.

Labutta: 7 Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) 1,120 sqm. (240sqm for UNICEF, 560 for WFP, 380 available)

Pathein: 1200 sqm under negotiation.

Pyapon: 2,160 sqm operational (9 units). 240 sqm dedicated to CARE, 240 to MSF-S, 240 to WFP and 240 to WVI.

Bogalay: 1,680 sqm operational (7 units). (240 sqm dedicated to UNICEF, 240 to WFP and 240 to IOM and 240 to ACF.) (LC, June 10)

World Vision reported the following traveling times:

Yangon – Kyaiklat: 3 hours by road

Yangon – Bogalay: 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 appealed for US$69.5 million to provide a complete food basket to 750,000 people, for a total of 380 MT a day, but now estimates that 1.5 million require food assistance. (IRIN, June 3). So far WFP has US$21.3 million, including US$5 million from the CERF, and has fed 575,000 people with a two-week ration of rice. WFP requires US$41.4 million for its immediate emergency food assistance program. The cluster is 21 percent funded in the Flash Appeal according to the FTS. (OCHA, June 12)

13,923 MT of WFP food assistance has been delivered to affected areas and 6,667 MT has been distributed. WFP’s cash transfer program in Yangon has reached 16,448 people. WFP estimates that it has reached approximately 596,000 beneficiaries with varying rations and cash assistance. Myanmar has asked WFP to halt the cash transfer program due to issues relating to currency exchange. (OCHA, June 12)

35 MT of ready-to-eat food for children arrived in Myanmar from India on June 10. These food supplies will feed 233,000 children under two years of age for one month. There have been continuing concerns regarding lack of food commodities for young children. (OCHA, June 12)

WFP expects a pipeline break by the end of July due to a lack of resources/funding and a shortage of in-country rice for its programs. The Government has now agreed to permit importation of rice, despite being initially opposed. (OCHA, June 9)

The Cluster estimates the monthly food requirement at 8,933 tons. WFP plans to cover 11 townships in Irrawaddy and eight in Yangon. WFP has two sub-offices in Labutta and Bogalay.

WFP emergency food assistance rations are composed of 400g of rice, 100g of pulses, 30g of vegetable oil and 5g of iodized salt per day per person. The monthly food basket for a family of five has 60 kg of rice, 15 kg of pulses, 4.5 kg of oil and .75 kg of iodizes salt.

Shelter

UNHCR leads the shelter cluster and is supporting the IFRC, which was designated the in-country cluster lead. UNHCR is asking for US$6 million from the Flash Appeal to help 250,000 people with shelter materials within the next six weeks. The cluster has so far received funds of US$14,750,000 from the Flash Appeal and IFRC Appeal. (OCHA, June 4) The cluster is 43% funded in the Flash Appeal according to the FTS. (OCHA, June 12)

IFRC said at least 1.5 million people remain homeless in the delta.

Reports from the field suggest that in low-lying areas the average family size is not five as previously presumed, but between two and three. This may in part be attributable to the high death-rate. (OCHA, June 12)

Field-based coordination has been strengthened with the establishment of an Shelter sub-cluster in Bogalay, in addition to the sub-cluster already operational in Labutta. (OCHA, June 12)

Lack of available assessment data is hampering a needs-based approach to shelter provision. Lack of involvement of national NGOs in the cluster remains a concern. (OCHA, June 12)

A potential gap in the pipeline for plastic sheeting was identified and quickly addressed with donor support. Cluster partners have been asked to provide planning figures for efficient distribution of plastic sheets per township. (OCHA, June 12)

A strategic advisory group has been established, with the participation of DFID, IFRC, IOM, the Mingalar Foundation, Save the Children, UN Habitat, UNHCR and UNICEF. The group is meeting weekly to develop a shelter strategy for the recovery phase, reporting to the main cluster. (OCHA, June 12)

The government has established 12 ‘frontier' sites in villages in Labutta. These are intended as both a transit point for people returning to their villages from camps and as base to which villager's can return to receive food and other essential supplies when needed. (UNICEF, June 10)

Shelter kits have been renamed: Family kit is now called Relief kit. Shelter kit is now Tarp Kit and Hamlet kit is now Community tool kit. The cluster has standardized three types of kits. The first is a tool for a group of 10 or more households. The second is a basic building material kit, one per household. The third is a Non-Food Items (NFI) kit. 102,000 Household Tarp Kits, 13,000 Community Tool Kits and 6,300 Household Relief Kits have been distributed so far. (OCHA, June 4)

Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) leads the health cluster, which comprises 22 international NGOs and UN agencies. Merlin is cluster co-lead. Cluster projects amount to US$4 million. WHO is calling for US$28 million to fund a six-month action plan to rebuild the health care system. At least 50 percent of health structures were damaged or destroyed. The Health cluster is 77 percent funded in the Flash Appeal. (OCHA, June 9)

Cluster sub-groups have been formed on HIV/AIDS, Early Recovery and psychosocial support. The cluster has established three operations centers in Pathein, Labutta and Bogalay. WHO launched the Early Warning Disease Surveillance System known as the Early Warning Reporting System (EWARS). The first report based on the EWARS for disease surveillance reveals 685 cases of acute respiratory infection, 117 cases of bloody diarrhea and three cases of dengue fever. (WHO, June 11)

WHO says the most commonly reported illnesses are malaria, dengue, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infections. (WHO, June 12) WHO says that while a high number of dengue cases is normal for the region at this time of the year, greater numbers are expected given the conditions post-cyclone. (IRIN, June 12)

WHO Regional Surveillance Officers report that there are adequate stocks of medicines in affected areas. Major risk factors seem to be a lack of clean water and of soap for hygiene. (WHO, June 12)

MSF is setting up support networks to help victims deal with and recover and to prevent more psychological problems. MSF is trying to identify community leaders and give them basic training in stress management so they can help monitor the most vulnerable. MSF is deploying professional local counselors to the delta. Other NGOs are working with local communities to try to help them understand how they can provide psychosocial support for community members. (IRIN, June 12)

MSF says its 43 health teams have yet to detect any major disease outbreaks although they have treated thousands of injuries, and are now seeing more cases of severe diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infections. (IRIN, June 12)

WHO said many TB patients were forced to stop treatment because of the cyclone, triggering fears of drug-resistant strains spreading. WHO said it will travel to affected areas to track down patients who have lost access to drugs since the storm hit. (Reuters, June 10)

International medical teams have been deployed as follows: China-Kungyangon; Thailand (two teams) – Mawlamyinegyun; Bangladesh – Wakema; India – Bogalay and Pyapon; Singapore- Twantay; Philippines- Pathein; Japan- Labutta; Indonesia - Kawhmu. Medical teams from more than 70 countries are expected to arrive in the next 3-6 months.

The Health Cluster Joint Plan of Action objectives are: Assess and monitor health needs and strengthen disease surveillance; Respond to outbreaks and other health threats, strengthen disease control and fill critical health care gaps; Strengthen and repair systems and build capacity; Engage partners to coordinate a joint health sector response. (OCHA, June 2)

Nutrition

About one-third of Myanmar’s children are malnourished, including 30,000 under five who were acutely malnourished before Nargis. Save the Children says several thousand may die in the next two weeks due to a lack of food. UNICEF found in 2003 40 percent under five were chronically malnourished and 10 percent were acutely malnourished. (IFRC, June 5)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

UNICEF leads the cluster and is appealing for US$8.2 million. The cluster is 115 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 4)

There were 27 mobile water treatment plants as of May 26 with the capacity to provide clean water for 1 million people, according to WHO. 10 water treatment units have been deployed in the Delta region. A total of 50 units are now in-country but only 10 have been deployed to the affected areas. (OCHA, June 9)

According to UNICEF, the southern village tracts have a highly dispersed population, and water transportation is unpractical. Service provision in these areas should insist on rainwater, point-of-use treatment systems, and hygiene materials, alongside pond rehabilitation. (UNICEF, June 10)

It is estimated that in rural areas in Pyapon around 90% of ponds, which are the main source of drinking water, are contaminated. (UNICEF, June 10)

UN says aid workers have distributed jerry cans to help survivors collect rain water as monsoon rains provide one of the main sources of clean drinking water in the area. (IRIN, June 12)

Progress with sanitation is relatively slow in villages due to technical difficulties (high water table) and prevailing cultural practices (pre-cyclone sanitation coverage was 25%). (OCHA, June 9)

The Cluster has finalized a 4-month initial response plan based on an assumption of 1.5 million affected people. The cluster’s goal is to provide three liters of drinking water and 10 liters of bathing and general purpose water per person per day, availability of soap for everyone, and 1 community trained hygiene promoter per 2,000 people. Within the first 60 days, it hopes to have one toilet per 100 people, with an eventual goal of one per 20. (OCHA, June 4)

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

Agriculture

The Flash Appeal includes US$10 million for agriculture. FAO was granted US$2 million from CERF for restoring food security in affected areas. The government estimates the costs of rehabilitation at US$243 million for agriculture and US$25 million for livestock. Donors have so far offered US$20 million. The cluster is currently 31 percent funded. (OCHA, June 6)

WFP says most farmers are still at least six months away from replacing their food stocks. WFP says it may have to import some food. (OCHA, June 9)

USDA has conducted a post-flood assessment which indicates that as of May 30 flood waters have receded over a sizable area (300,000 hectares total recovery; 490,000 hectares improved since May 5th). However, a month after the cyclone approximately 1.40 million hectares or 80 percent of the original inundated area is still affected by some degree of flooding.

USDA currently estimates 2008/09 Burma rice production at 9.4 million tons (milled basis), down 0.6 million from last month and 12 percent from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 6.4 million hectares, down 10 percent from last year. In addition, USDA estimates that approximately 1 million tons of rice (milled rice equivalent) from the 2007/08 harvest was lost or destroyed by the storm surge and subsequent flooding. (USDA, June 10)

FAO says cyclone affected 60 percent of the 1.3 million hectares (3.2 million acres) of rice paddy in the five disaster areas, but only 16 percent was seriously damaged. (Reuters, June 4)

Nargis destroyed about 2.3 percent of Myanmar’s annual rice production and threatens to disrupt the main November harvest in the rice-bowl delta if planting is not finished by the end of July. FAO says there are enough seeds for planting, but fertilizer and tools are still needed. About 20 percent of the delta’s paddy land may need rehabilitation and pumps for flushing out sea water.

FAO launched a Web site offering data on agriculture in Myanmar.

Link: http://www.fao.org/nr/myanmar/myan-home_en.htm

Protection of children and women

UNICEF and Save the Children (SC) lead the protection cluster. The cluster is currently 25 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 6)

A Cluster response plan is being finalized, but so far emphasis has been on registering separated children with the hope of finding their families and providing family/community care rather than sending children to orphanages. Other priority issues include the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and secondary separations – adolescents leaving their families to look for work.

48 Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) are currently functioning in Yangon Division, with a further 24 CFSs Irrawaddy Division. Some CFSs have been closed due to the closure of temporary settlements. A revised Code of Conduct to Prevent Any Form of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation has been circulated in Burmese and English and has been posted on the HIC website. Key Advocacy Messages for the Protection of Children and Women have been revised and distributed in English. A Burmese version is also being prepared. (OCHA, June 12)

Child Protection agencies continue to advocate for family-based care within the community. A revised cluster response plan has been circulated and will be posted on the HIC website. (OCHA, June 12)

UNICEF says there are at least 2,000 orphans or are missing parents. CSM says that a lack of surnames is complicating efforts to reunite families. (CSM, June 9)

Agencies have assumed Cluster focal point responsibilities: Labutta (UNICEF); Bogalay & Piyapon (World Vision); Pathein & Malamyinegyung (SC). Child Focus Network is the national NGO focal point.

Education

UNICEF leads the education cluster. The education cluster is currently 0 percent funded (according to FTS). (OCHA, June 6)

Education is highly valued in Myanmar society and UNICEF says 85 percent of education buildings in affected areas were damaged or destroyed, including 4,000 basic schools, affecting 1.1 million children.

UN says it is critical children are not prevented from accessing school due to inability to pay fees. Access to school is a crucial ingredient of ensuring the protection of children in emergencies. (OCHA, June 12)

In Yangon (4 townships) 152 primary schools roofs have been repaired using 14,636 roofing sheets. 46 temporary primary schools have been set up benefiting 7,248 children and 280 teachers. Essential learning packages consisting of items such as exercise books, pencils, erasers, a ruler and school bag, have been provided for 31,495 children and 118 Schools-in-a-Box and 74 Recreation Kits have also been distributed. (OCHA, June 12)

In Irrawaddy (7 townships) 256 primary schools roofs have been repaired using 29,330 roofing sheets and tarpaulin sheets. 98 tents have been provided to Labutta and Bogalay townships for primary schooling. Essential learning packages have been provided for 267 children, and 267 Schools-in-a-Box and 267 Recreation Kits have also been distributed, potentially benefiting 21,360 children. (OCHA, June 12)

11,264 roofing sheets will be distributed in Yangon townships for the establishment of 512 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) along with 1,250 tarpaulins/plastic sheeting. 79,266 roofing sheets will be distributed in Irrawaddy townships for the establishment of 3,603 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) along with 8,750 tarpaulins/plastic sheeting. (OCHA, June 12)

There are concerns regarding the return of teachers to affected areas, many of whom come from northern regions. Psychosocial support for teachers and children, crucial for establishing normalcy, presents a continuing challenge. The education cluster is coordinating with the child protection cluster on psychosocial training and implications of lack of access to schools for child protection issues. (OCHA, June 12)

While most schools reopened June 2, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are working to reopen others in worst affected areas by July. UNICEF and MoE have been distributing school construction kits, school supplies and learning materials. UNICEF is also distributing early child development kits and supporting reading initiatives for kids who are not in school. MoE says there is a surplus of teachers.

Telecommunication

The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is currently reviewing its funding requirements. The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is 73% funded in the Flash Appeal. (OCHA, June 9)

WFP and UNICEF provide technical support to the humanitarian community in Bangkok and Yangon, and in sub-offices and logistics centers in Labutta, Bogalay, Pyapon Mawlamgyun, and Pathein. UNICEF installed an IPSTAR system in Labutta.

Emergency telecommunications equipment has been held at customs for more than three weeks. Release of the equipment has been approved by the Government, but clearance is pending. Restrictions on official import of telecommunications equipment remain in place. (OCHA, June 12)

Installation of an emergency telecommunications centre in Yangon is expected to begin this week. Equipment is required for the humanitarian hubs in the Delta. (OCHA, June 12)

Myanmar’s government bans the import of communications equipment, but has offered to sell CDMA SIM cards and phones at a high price to responders with a limit of 10 per agency.

Early Recovery

UNDP leads the early recovery cluster. The Flash Appeal includes US$4.8 million for Early Recovery. The Early Recovery cluster is completely funded in the Flash Appeal according to the FTS. (OCHA, June 12)

The government has started health infrastructure rehabilitation under which health centers are being repaired with the help of local corporations. Most rural primary health centers have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt. All township hospitals have survived and are being repaired. (WHO, June 9)

An Early Recovery Network has been established to mainstream early recovery into relevant clusters. Draft guidance on a common approach has been developed and is being discussed with the clusters.

The cluster’s strategy focuses on organizing monsoon planting assistance for delta farming communities and providing a long-term recovery plan to begin within six weeks.