Humanitarian agencies jointly request $187 million for Myanmar Cyclone relief effort

(New York, 9 May 2008): Relief agencies today issued a joint flash appeal for $187 million to fund an emergency humanitarian effort to help an estimated 1.5 million people in Myanmar who are suffering from the effects of the devastating Cyclone Nargis.

The cyclone ravaged the Ayeyarwady river delta and the former capital, Yangon, leaving more than 22,000 dead, according to an official death toll provided by the Government of Myanmar. Another 41,000 people are still missing. These figures look likely to rise significantly.

A massive humanitarian intervention is urgently needed if a further wave of death from water-borne diseases, malaria, illnesses related to exposure, and hunger is to be avoided.

'The sheer magnitude of the devastation is such that international assistance is indispensable for ensuring a rapid and coherent response,' UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said.

The resources appealed for will help international partners - 10 UN organizations and 9 nongovernmental organizations - to support the Government of Myanmar in addressing the needs of those affected for at least three months. The appeal will be regularly updated to reflect needs as the situation evolves.

According to the Humanitarian Country Team, critical needs will be plastic sheeting, water purification materials, water receptacles, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits, and food. Fuel shortages have also been reported. The food security situation in the country, which was already severe, is likely to become more acute.

The combined population of the declared disaster areas, Yangon and Ayeyarwady divisions, is around 13 million, with roughly six million living in Yangon and surrounding areas.

'The sooner humanitarians are allowed in, and the fewer procedural and other obstacles we encounter, the more lives we can help save. The speed with which we deliver assistance to those in need is becoming more and more critical and the danger of the outbreak of epidemics rises by the hour,' said Mr. Holmes.

'If we do not act now, and if we do not act fast, more lives will be lost. We are working hard to step up our own response. But we also count on strong support from the international community to alleviate the suffering of millions of people whose lives have been shattered'.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; John Nyaga, OCHA-NY, + 1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.