Network News
Twelve weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck southern Myanmar, ADRA continues to meet the needs of survivors, providing emergency food aid, shelter materials, sanitation, water, health care, and other assistance to thousands of survivors displaced since the deadly storm that struck the night of May 2 and killed approximately 85,000 people, with more than 53,000 still missing, according to the latest assessment.
In June alone, ADRA provided food aid to more than 49,000 people, including nearly 400 metric tons of rice, legumes, oil, and salt. On June 4, ADRA expanded its relationship with the World Food Programme (WFP) and agreed to distribute an additional 4,526 metric tons of food rations over six months in the Labutta and Myaungmya Townships. ADRA is the largest partner of WFP in Myanmar and distributes as much as 40 percent of WFP commodities nationally.
In the Labutta Township, ADRA is partnering with various donors including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British Government to increase access to clean water among vulnerable cyclone-affected people by cleaning the local water reservoirs or “ponds,” and providing water purification units, jerry cans, household kits, shelter materials, tool kits, and other goods prior to the end of the rainy season. Its efforts focus on Pyinsalu Sub Township, one of the hardest hit areas in the Irrawaddy Delta where approximately 65,000 people survived. At present, ADRA is helping clean-up water reservoirs in 106 villages throughout Pyinsalu, and plans are underway to desalinate approximately 50 additional reservoirs.
ADRA has also increased its sanitation activities through a second grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which will further combat the spread of waterborne diseases in the township and reduce illness through improved sanitation. The project will construct a total of 1,550 latrines and more than 350 waste disposal pits and cement washing areas. ADRA has developed and is distributing child-focused coloring books, information labels, and other educational materials to reinforce good hygiene practices in conjunction with its distribution of hygiene kits and water jerry cans to more than 7,500 families. In addition, ADRA has distributed plastic sheeting, household kits, cooking sets, mosquito nets, clothing, baby hygiene kits, and additional aid.
Cyclone Nargis highlighted Myanmar’s vulnerability to high-impact, low-frequency natural hazards, as well as the need for the country to undertake a range of actions for reducing, mitigating and managing disaster risks in the future to avoid similar catastrophes. The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) report released by the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) on July 21, 2008, confirmed that the cyclone caused widespread destruction to homes and critical infrastructure, including roads, jetties, water and sanitation systems, fuel supplies and electricity. A large number of water supplies were contaminated and food stocks damaged or destroyed. The winds tore down trees and power lines, while the accompanying storm surge submerged countless villages.