Sector Status

Logistics

The World Food Program (WFP) is the cluster lead, supported by the UNJLC. Only US$20 million of the US$50 million required have been received.

Yangon Airport is 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 and a 20,000 sqm temporary warehouse is available. The cluster is reducing the asset capacity out of DMK to one IL76 and one AN 12.

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)

Cluster has delivered 3,116 MT from May 20 to June 16. One boat finished offloading cargo In Bogalay and will continue to Set San tomorrow. Another boat is being loaded and will depart for Bogalay tomorrow. One boat arrived in Mawlanyaingyun, while another boat arrived in Labutta. (UNJLC, June 16)

Five trucks were loaded and departed for Pyapon today. One truck was loaded and departed for Pathein. (UNJLC, June 16)

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) To date, the helicopters have had 134 rotations to 55 different locations, delivering a total of 169 tons. (UNJLC, June 16) Helicopters facilitated visits by medical teams to 4 remote areas from Labutta and one helicopter was used for the TCG PONJA assessment monitoring mission on June 13. One further helicopter has now been provided to facilitate the DaLA assessment. (OCHA, June 16)

The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment/PONJA launched on June 9. The assessment involves: a Village Tract Assessment (VTA) and a Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA), for which field surveys in the 30 affected townships are planned between June 10-19. (OCHA, June 12)

Logistics hubs storage updates:

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

Labutta: 7 Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) 1,840 sqm. (7 units) (240sqm for UNICEF, 560 for WFP)

Pathein: 800 sqm available.

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. 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)

A summary of the ‘Post-Nargis Food Security Survey’ conducted by WFP in Yangon has been published and is now available on the HIC website. (OCHA, June 16)

14,367 MT of WFP food assistance has been delivered to affected areas, 6,667 MT of which has been distributed in collaboration with partners. WFP and partners have reached 580,000 beneficiaries with varying rations of food and a further 33,000 beneficiaries with cash assistance in lieu of food. (OCHA, June 16)

Delivery and monitoring in remote areas continue to pose challenges. 20 boats donated by ECHO for monitoring purposes will be allocated to 12 organizations in the food cluster operating in the Delta. Frequent population movements are creating challenges with the targeting of food assistance. (OCHA, June 16)

WFP is planning to deliver 113 MT of rice and 6 MT of high energy biscuits by helicopter next week to 8 previously inaccessible locations in Bogalay. Ready to Use Food for Children (RUFC) is not yet included in the WFP food basket. Distribution is expected to begin shortly following identification of implementing partners and target areas. (OCHA, June 16)

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. The cluster is 47 percent funded in the Flash Appeal, according to the FTS. (OCHA, June 16)

Plastic sheeting and rope remain priority requirements for shelter cluster agencies. The procurement of plastic sheeting to agreed standards remains a challenge for some partners, although specifications have been shared and are also posted on the HIC website. (OCHA, June 16)

Distribution activities continue with indications that more than 160,000 households have been issued with some form of emergency shelter, typically plastic sheeting material. (OCHA, June 16)

Lack of available assessment data is hampering a needs-based approach to shelter provision. (OCHA, June 16)

According to the local Yangon Times, Myanmar will build cyclone shelters in 500 villages. The project is estimated to cost US$15 million and will be implemented by the cooperation of the Myanmar Engineers’ Society (MES) and the Geological Science Society. A 40-house cyclone-resistant model village will be built in the Irrawaddy division with the assistance of experts from Tokyo University of Japan. (Xinhua, June 14)

Sub-clusters have been established in Bogalay and Labutta. (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)

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 and cluster released the first disease surveillance bulletin today based on the EWARS and say that between June 1-7, 685 cases of acute respiratory infections, 659 cases of diarrhea (including 117 cases of bloody diarrhea), 337 cases of trauma or injuries, ten cases of measles, five cases of malaria and three cases of suspected dengue hemorraghic fever have been reported. (Irrawaddy, June 16)

The UN plans to launch a massive anti-dengue campaign this week in affected areas. WHO says that more than 1,700 volunteers will work in 22 priority areas in Yangon and the Irrawaddy delta applying larvicide. WHO will work with UNICEF and local aid groups. WHO says so far number of cases is in line with previous years. There were 781 cases of dengue in Yangon as of June 10 and 481 cases reported in the delta through the end of May. WHO hopes to start in Yangon on Tuesday. First phase will involve 44 tons of larvicide to be applied over roughly a 10-day period. (AP, June 16)

An outgoing Japanese medical team emphasized the need for teams to prepare for local climate conditions, the necessity for pre-packed food and the need to spend funds locally for medicine and food items. The participation of a government-assigned medical officer, who provided guidance with adapting treatments to local needs, was welcomed. (OCHA, June 16)

UNICEF has, in partnership with the Myanmar Health Assistants Association and Myanmar Nurses and Midwives Association, deployed 32 health assistants to Laputta, Bogalay and Pyapon. An additional 39 health assistants, 16 nurses and 24 midwives are awaiting deployment. (OCHA, June 16)

A working plan for psychosocial support to the affected population has been finalized and will be circulated shortly. Burmese translation is in process and is expected to be finished next week. (OCHA, June 16)

Local doctors say that around 100 patients, most suffering from diarrhea, are seeking treatment at nine local clinics to receive medicine or treatment each day. (Irrawaddy, June 16)

WHO supporting MoH in measles vaccination for all children aged 9 months to 10 years. (June 16, WHO)

Nutrition

The Nutrition cluster is 41 percent funded in the Flash Appeal according to the OCHA Financial Tracking Service (FTS). (OCHA, June 16)

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.

Pre-crisis figures for levels of acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition are relatively high at around 9 percent and 32 percent respectively (MICS 2003). High numbers of malnourished children have not so far been identified during screenings and rapid nutrition assessments in cyclone-affected areas using MUAC and conducted by ACF, MSF, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health (MoH). (OCHA, June 16)

Estimated levels of acute malnutrition using MUAC for children 6-59 months old in worst-affected areas is 6.5% and 3.9% for moderate and severe categories respectively. The numbers of children in the ‘at risk’ category in Irrawaddy and Yangon (17.4% and 14.7% respectively) are high. MSF reports that up to 27% of under-fives are in the ‘at risk’ category according to a MUAC survey in Bogalay. (OCHA, June 16)

Rapid assessments indicate low food security (ACF May 08 and WFP May 08). WFP identified 36% of households as severely food insecure and 44% as moderately food insecure in the 16 worst-affected townships in Yangon Division. Other assessments have highlighted disrupted/poor infant feeding practices (SCUK May 08). (OCHA, June 16)

Measures to improve food availability, provide sufficiently energy-dense foods for young children, protect appropriate infant feeding, and ensure environmental sanitation and adequate health care services are vital. (OCHA, June 16)

The cluster has been working with the MoH to develop technical standards for the management of acute malnutrition and actions relating to infant-feeding in emergencies. UNICEF is supporting MoH with provision of Vitamin A supplementation and therapeutic feeding facilities at hospitals in affected areas. Two hospitals have been initiated and four are in process. (OCHA, June 16)

More than 200 MT of therapeutic food provided by UNICEF has been distributed to partners and WFP has recently imported 40 MT of special complementary food for children aged 6-23 months. (OCHA, June 16)

There is a shortage of trained workers for management of acute malnutrition, including breast-feeding counselors and nutritionists. Standard guidelines, training materials and a listing of trainers/resource persons at MoH and within NGOs are being developed. (OCHA, June 16)

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)

A total of 50 water units are now in-country and 10 have been deployed to the delta.

Over 6 million liters of water is being disinfected daily, covering the needs of some 2 million people. (WHO, June 16)

Rainwater collection is increasingly being introduced and represents main source of freshwater in many areas of the delta. Sea water has also contaminated pond and are being cleaned on a priority basis. (WHO, June 16)

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)

The UN says that farmers need a million gallons of diesel fuel to plant rice and ward off future food shortages. Donors have provided farmers with small power tillers to replace the hundreds of thousands of livestock used for plowing, however fuel is expensive and in short supply. Planting season in the delta is from June to July in the delta region. (BBC, June 13)

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 the 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 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)

Family tracing, registration and reunification are being carried out at temporary settlements, shelters and villages. (OCHA, June 16)

Mobile health clinics are attending to reproductive health needs in Kungyangon, Bogalay and Shwepyitha, and temporary outreach clinics to provide maternity facilities to assist with safer deliveries are planned. (OCHA, June 16)

Child-friendly spaces (CFSs) are being established in villages, shelters and temporary settlements on an ongoing basis. In Yangon Division, a total of 48 CFSs are functioning, and in Irrawaddy Division a total of 24 CFSs have been set up. Some previously established CFSs are now closed due to the evacuation and closure of temporary settlements/shelters. (OCHA, June 16)

The cluster is coordinating with the education cluster on issues relating to psychosocial support and training and child protection-related issues related to lack of access to schools. (OCHA, June 16)

Child Protection agencies continue to advocate for family-based care within the community. There are large numbers of vulnerable children and families in affected villages, including substantial numbers of female, child and elderly-headed households. Many children, who prior to the cyclone provided farm labor in the villages, may now seek work in larger towns or Yangon due to the destruction of farms. (OCHA, June 16)

School enrolment for a number of children is a challenge due to the destruction of schools and the difficulties families face paying school fees, replacing text books, uniforms, and lost certification. (OCHA, June 16)

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)

Initial assessments indicate that 4,106 schools were damaged, most of which were primary schools. Of these, 1,255 had totally collapsed. (OCHA, June 16)

The cluster is making efforts to strengthen the engagement of the Ministry of Education (MoE) with cluster activities. UNICEF is the only partner with a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the MoE. The work of the private sector with the repair and construction of Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) is significant, and in this regard coordination between stakeholders at the township level, particularly with Township Education Officers is crucial for a comprehensive response. (OCHA, June 16)

Poor monitoring of distribution of materials for repairs and construction of TLSs. The pressure on private contractors to deliver materials quickly is affecting quality. The same pressure is leading to a focus on the most accessible areas, leaving harder-to-reach areas underserviced. (OCHA, June 16)

UNICEF, with the assistance of implementing partners, plans to cover 2,000 schools targeting 360,000 children with a package consisting of teaching and learning spaces, teaching and learning materials, water and sanitation facilities for 1,000 schools and teacher training for 1,000 schools. (OCHA, June 16)

UNICEF will partner with NGOs to cover 400 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers for repairs and ECD kits targeting 2,000 children under 5. UNICEF will also partner with the Ministry of Education and NGOs to cover 2,000 Non-formal Education (NFE) students aged 10-17 for learning

spaces and NFE kits. (OCHA, June 16)

Save The Children plans to reach 70,000 children and 2,080 teachers in the 13 worst-affected townships, focusing on 300 schools for teaching and learning materials and teacher training; 200 of these for rehabilitation or creation of Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS); 120 ECCD/NFE Centers; and 100 communities for DRR training and plans. (OCHA, June 16)

UNDP is planning to repair or reconstruct 800 schools. If all partners honor their commitments there will still be a shortage of at least 1,000 schools. (OCHA, June 16)

In Yangon (4 townships) 152 primary schools roofs have been repaired. Essential learning packages have been provided for 31,495 children and 118 Schools-in-a-Box and 74 Recreation Kits have been distributed. (OCHA, June 12) In Irrawaddy (7 townships) 256 primary schools roofs have been repaired, 98 tents have been provided to Labutta and Bogalay townships for primary schooling and essential learning packages have been provided for 267 children. 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 3,603 TLS along with 8,750 tarpaulins/plastic sheeting. (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.

Telecommunication

The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is currently reviewing its funding requirements. The Emergency Telecommunications cluster is 73% funded in the Flash Appeal. WFP is the lead.

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)

An Early Recovery Network has been established to mainstream early recovery into relevant 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.