UN prepared to provide grant from CERF to help cyclone survivors in Myanmar
M/08/11
The United Nations announced today that
it was prepared to provide an initial grant from the Central Emergency
Response Fund (CERF) to facilitate aid for survivors of the devastating
tropical cyclone, Nargis, which hit Myanmar last Friday, killing many people
and leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter.
"The Government of Myanmar has
indicated that they are open to international assistance. We appreciate
the Government's announcement that it is making available approximately
$5 million from its own resources for emergency relief, and I am ready
to allocate a significant amount from the CERF as the most urgent needs
become clear," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said.
As the magnitude of the disaster unfolds,
the number of people in need of assistance is expected to be considerable.
The UN Country Team in Myanmar reports that urgent needs for those
affected by this crisis include shelter, water purification tablets, cooking
sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits and food.
A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) team, composed of disaster management professionals from the region,
is being dispatched to Myanmar and is expected to begin work shortly. Obtaining
information on the geographical impact of the storm and on populations
affected has been a major challenge because of lack of communications.
Roads have been blocked by debris or flooded and telephone lines
cut.
The combined total population of the
declared disaster areas is estimated at 24 million. An estimated
6 million people live in Yangon. Authorities in Myanmar reported
that in Ayeyarwady Division alone, more than 3,000 people are missing.
Authorities have declared five regions - Yangon, Ayeyarwwady, Bago,
Mon and Kayin - disaster areas.