UNITED NATIONS

OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS

Myanmar Cyclone Nargis OCHA Situation Report No. 53

28 November 2008 (Reporting period 14 – 27 November 2008)

OVERVIEW & KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 2-3 May 2008, affecting some 2.4 million people living in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Almost 140,000 people were killed or remain missing, according to the official figures. While addressing residual or new emergency needs, including water shortage during the summer season, most of humanitarian partners are transiting to full recovery programming mode. Clusters are finalising the inputs to the “Post Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan” (PONREPP) which covers the long term recovery post Flashed Appeal (2009-2011). Concurrently, clusters are also finalising the Early Recovery Strategic Framework (ERSF), whose final draft has been approved on 21 November by the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), a high-level coordination entity, consisting of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the United Nations.

• The Periodic Review, building on the village tract Assessment (VTA) component of the Post- Nargis Joint Assessment (PoNJA), has completed data collection. The preliminary result was shown at the TCG Round Table, held on 26 November in Yangon. The data analysis and narratives are being finalised with clusters and the final draft will be submitted to the Periodic Review Strategic Advisory Group on 3 December and to the TCG on 6 December. It is planned that the results of the first Periodic Review, together with PONREPP will be shared at the UN/ASEAN summit in Thailand, planned for mid December.

• Discussions continue on the ways forward for the clusters and coordination mechanisms beyond the emergency phase at the Humanitarian Country Team/IASC and among cluster leads. There have been several cluster performance reviews recently conducted, such as for Protection of Women and Children, and WASH. The draft report of the inter-agency real time evaluation has been circulated for comments by cluster leads, as well. Some shifts are already occurring in the Myanmar cluster teams:

ƒ The education cluster in Yangon held its 22nd and final meeting as an active cluster on 27 November. The cluster will become dormant effective 1 December. Hub-level cluster meetings will continue in order to support coordination at the field level. Cluster lead agencies (UNICEF and Save the Children) have each designated a focal person responsible for cluster issues during the dormant phase, and coordination meetings can be called on an as-needed basis. The Disaster Preparedness Response in Education working group will continue to meet. UNICEF will continue to convene the bi-monthly Education Dialogue meeting as an information exchange forum; ƒ There has been much discussion over the past few months about the creation of a protection cluster, an idea supported by the Humanitarian Coordinator. Various actors have been consulted. It is likely that the first protection cluster meeting will be held on 12 December, chaired by UNHCR. The work on the protection of children and women will continue within this larger framework; ƒ UNDP is strengthening its coordination lead role for the early recovery cluster/Network. A senior recovery advisor, who will take over the chair role when on board, is under recruitment. UNDP also plans to deploy early recovery field coordinators to the hubs who will facilitate coordinated transition from relief to recovery, in partnership with OCHA hub office. The cluster will organise early recovery training on 9 December in Yangon.

CLUSTER UPDATE

• Strengthening support to hub-level coordination capacity continues. The inter-agency field coordination training continues at hubs, as well as Sphere training; • Clusters have been devoting significant efforts to the Periodic Review, and PONREPP.

AGRICULTURE

Needs Assessments & Analysis • The World Society for the Protection Of Animals (WSPA) conducted a further assesment of 6 villages in Kunyangone and Khamhu regions prior to initiating a risk-reduction project within these six villages as a pilot project. In 2009 WSPA wil extend this work to further Delta villages. • HELP from Germany has carried out a needs assessment in the Hpaung Yo Chaung village tract in the northern part of Kyaiklat township area. This village tract has received no livelihood support so far. • Green Care with its local partner CDA has carried out an assessment focused mainly on livelihoods in the underserved area of Kyun Thay Yar village tract of the Kadonkani peninsula, Bogale township. The assessment of all 33 villages in this village tract serves as a basis for a new livelihood project, targeting and covering the whole Kyun Thar Yar village tract.

Response & Achievements • FAO, together with its implementing partners Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), Groupe de Recherche et d'Echanges Technologiques (GRET), Green Care, Help from Germany, World Concern, CESVI, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Save the Children, UNDP and Mingalar Myanmar, are in the process of distributing 958 tonnes of cow pea, green gram and black gram seeds to some 27,000 farming households. • Based on needs assessments undertaken during September and October, HELP from Germany has distributed a total of 4,680 bags of Urea fertilizer to the village tracts of Kha Naung, Kaing Chaung and Bon Da Yeik of Kyaiklat township area. • FAO has distributed 5,000 chickens in Kungyangone and are starting distribution of poultry packages in Dedaye. • Green Care/CDA are about to complete the implementation of their livelihood project in Bawathit, Ayeyar and Kadonkani village tracts, Bogale township. Implementation has included distributions of fishing boats and gear, thresher machines, fertilizers and insecticides. Backyard gardening of banana trees has been supported within the cash for work segment of the project. • Myanmar/Burma Emergency Aid Network provided 6.2 tonnes of fertilizer to farmers from Tawku, Kungyangone township in addition of 12.5 tonnes provided in August. Two types of insects that destroy paddy stalks and leaves by forming tubulus leaf-cases on the plants were found in some of the farms, and 100kg of insecticide powder and 40 litres of liquid insecticide were provided for 92 acres.

Gaps and Future Planning • FAO will be holding trainings in Labutta on animal health, fisheries, community forestry and nurseries for mangrove species together with Save the Children in December. • HELP from Germany is in the process of procuring vegetable seeds for four more village tracts in the Kyaiklat area. This work will include papaya, chilies, cucumbers and beetle plants as cash crop.

EDUCATION

Needs Assessments & Analysis • The Disaster Preparedness Response Education (DPRE) working group convened a workshop on 20 November for planning school-based disaster preparedness approaches. Three Directors- General of the Department of Educational Planning and Training, and the Departments of Basic Education (1) and (3) participated.

Response & Achievements • Cluster partners are providing material support to over 3,000 schools in 21 affected townships. An estimated 509,247 girls and boys have benefited, compared with the planned target of 423,350.

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• The planned emergency relief distribution of education materials has almost completed. The following represents a near complete list of supplies provided during the emergency response phase: • Where schools were completely destroyed, 1,323 Temporary Safe Learning Spaces (TSLS) are being established to allow learning to continue (planned target 1,315). 95% of structures have been completed and are operational (UNICEF, Save the Children, AMURT); • UN Habitat has started building the first of 40 transitional schools this month; • 1,230 damaged schools have now been repaired (including provision of 108,254 roofing sheets) against the cluster Response Plan target of 1,390; • 1,686 schools have received replacement furniture to date, including around 22,565 desks, 92,830 chairs and 11,000 blackboards. In addition, 8,514 desk and bench sets have been provided to schools in Kawthmu, Kungyangon and Dedaye for younger primary school children (UNICEF, Islamic Relief); • 2,540 school kits have been distributed, as well as 1,780 games kits and 666 library boxes; • 639 schools-in-a-box have been provided, to benefit up to 51,000 children; • 364,247 children have received packages of basic learning materials (planned target 363,750); • 9,694 teacher’s kits have been distributed; • 373,000 textbooks (including life-skills books) have been reprinted and to date 337,560 (90%) have been delivered to 2,204 basic education schools; • Younger children are being supported through 358 Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centres, implemented by a number of partners (planned target 520). 1,574 ECD kits have been distributed to a network of partners, along with 1,334 sets of children’s books; • The Yinthway Foundation plans to rebuild 10 pre-schools in coming months, and the Metta Development Foundation will build 30 ECCD centres with support from Plan International. • 3,158 teachers have been trained on topics including provision of psychosocial support to students and on child-centred approaches (UNICEF, Save the Children).

Challenges • UNICEF construction specialist shared the findings of soil testing carried out at potential sites for school reconstruction. It was noted that many sites would require soil reinforcement to ensure safer and more disaster-resistant buildings. Partners planning construction should be aware of a potential effect this would have on increasing costs, such as for addition of gravel to sites.

Gaps & Future Planning • UNICEF plans to construct two more model child-friendly Build-Back-Better schools in Kungyangon and Kawthmu townships of Yangon Division, in addition to the seven already identified in Ayeyarwady Division. • Gaps persist in commitments for the reconstruction of destroyed schools. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement continues to be the focal ministry for coordination of school reconstruction. • Cluster partners are aware of the need and responsibility to maintain and repair TSLS and review earlier repairs. A high proportion of the TSLS are expected to have to serve longer than their planned lifespan, until permanent buildings can be provided.

FOOD

Needs Assessment & Analysis • The Myanmar National Nutrition Centre has completed data collection activities for the joint WFP/UNICEF/Ministry of Health, Food & Nutrition and Household Food Security Assessment. WFP, in collaboration with UNICEF, is leading the analysis of the data. The result is expected to be available in December. • WFP and FAO are finalizing the nationwide Food and Crop Supply Assessment Mission, the first of its kind in Myanmar. The report, expected at the end of November, will provide much needed up-to-date information on the food security statuses in the country.

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Response & Achievements • As of 19 November, 51,000 tons of food assistance has been delivered to affected areas. • WFP, through its cooperating partners, have distributed food commodities to 750,000 beneficiaries in the Ayeyarwady Division and 131,400 in the Yangon Division. • The dispatch of various commodities into the Delta is continuing, and recently included the deliveries of 200 tons of rice to Bogale, 600 tons of rice to Pyapon, and 180 tons of rice and 60 tons of oil to Mawlamyinegyun during the last week of November. • 2,150 tons of rice from Thailand has arrived and cleared in Yangon. Additional 1,375 tons of rice from India is expected to arrive in Yangon by 30 November. • 1,026 tons of vegetable oil is scheduled to arrive from Malaysia by the end of November. • Distributions for Supplementary Feeding Programme have started in the Delta. Nutrition trainings and cooking demonstrations were completed in Bogale, Labutta and Pyapon. In total, 78,000 pregnant and lactating women and children under 5 in 7 townships will receive 150g of Blended Food per person per day for 6 months.

Challenges • The prohibition of local rice purchases has placed a pressure on the budget and pipeline. Negotiations are ongoing with authorities for permission to restart local procurement. Gaps & Future Planning • The cluster will hold a 2009 Food Assistance Strategy workshop on 10 December with the participation of food and non-food cluster members. • Discussions with CPs are ongoing to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are covered, and that there will be no overlap in area coverage. The caseload and targeting will be reviewed in December with the data gathered from the Food and Crop Security Assessment, the Periodic Review, and the Food and Nutrition Survey. Target caseload for general food distributions for the remainder of the year will be 400,000. • As part of preparation for Food for Work activities in the Delta, training for WFP and CP staff will be held in Bogale, Labutta and Pyapon on 25 November – 2 December. FFW and CFW schemes are part of WFP’s early recovery strategy, aiming to promote the rehabilitation of individual and community assets and the restoration of livelihoods. In total, 200,000 beneficiaries will benefit from FFW activities.

NUTRITION

Needs Assessment & Analysis • Workshop on reporting of Food and Nutrition Survey results was held in Nay Pyi Daw on 18-19 November, with participation by MOH, UNICEF, WFP, and the nutrition cluster. The final report is expected to be released in December. • According to the report of seven implementing partners of UNICEF, more than 71,163 children out of 196,725, aged between 6-59 months, in 12 affected townships, have been screened in October. Among them, 0.6% was in severe acute malnutrition and 3.9% in moderate acute malnutrition.

Response & Achievements • In October: o 5,066 lactating women received Vitamin A supplementation in 21 out of 36 townships; o More than 6,000 of pregnant mothers received mebendazole in 25 townships; o 164 children have been screened with MUAC in outpatient departments of 6 hospital nutrition units in Yangon; o 419 of severely acute malnourished children received plumpy-nut and 2,794 of children with moderate acute malnutrition received BP-5 among 12 affected townships; • Up to October, 218 severely acute malnourished children with complications have been treated with necessary medical and nutritional management in 12 hospital nutrition units in Yangon and the Delta.

Challenges

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• Delay in receiving monthly report from implementing partners on regular basis could impact on monitoring and analysis of nutrition programme. Communication between Yangon and the field also remains the challenge.

Gaps & Future Planning • Baby friendly home delivery training will be organized in 2009. Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF will revise the training manual in December.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN & WOMEN

Needs Assessment & Analysis • The data collection for the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) Women’s Protection Assessment is now complete, and is currently being entered and cleaned.

Response & Achievements • The six-month Technical Review Meeting on the Plan of Action: Child Protection in Emergencies scheduled was held on 25 November. This one day meeting was organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the PCW cluster Child Protection in Emergencies Technical Working Group. There was active participation from the Government, NGOs, and UN agencies, including Child Protection agencies. Areas of prioritization in the future is to continue: • Family tracing and reunification of children; • Support to children in institutions and monasteries - encouraging family reunification where possible; • Support to vulnerable children, and strengthen community-based support mechanisms. • The 5 DSW social workers have now been deployed to affected areas. • The global campaign “16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women” will be held from 25 November to 10 December. Photos of women in the Delta are being collected for a photo exhibit in Yangon, and a "fun run/walk" will be held in support of Human Dignity day on 10 December

Challenges • Cluster members continue efforts to support other sectors to ensure that children and women's protection concerns are integrated into their activities. There has been an enthusiastic response to the release of the small booklet “Participation in Action”, particularly the Myanmar version, and copies have been distributed to numerous agencies and members of other clusters.

Gaps & Future Planning • Myanmar colleagues from a number of organizations have been identified to participate in training of trainers on gender-based violence. The trainings will be conducted the first week of December. Training modules and resources are being translated into Myanmar for future use • In October, the Inter-Agency Review Mission (Save the Children, UNFPA, and UNICEF) reviewed the effectiveness of the cluster. The final report is expected by the end of November.

SHELTER

Needs assessments & Analysis • The IOM and the cluster will soon publish the new Shelter Needs Assessment. Initial findings were reported in the previous situation report.

Response & Achievements • Cluster members have been assisting in the construction of about 4,000 shelters, most of them very basic units using bamboo and thatch. The organizations are planning to build another 10,000 in the next 6-9 months and 5,000 more in the next 2 years. • The cluster has distributed a total of 701,184 plastic sheets, covering 72% of the estimated affected households. 117,683 tool kits have also been distributed, along with 496,051 blankets, 955,062 mosquito nets, 481,175 jerry cans and 236,297 kitchen sets. • The cluster is preparing rapid shelter interventions to help prepare for the next monsoon season, focusing on reinforcing shelter and repairing roofs. The cluster will start demonstration on these techniques in Pyapon, over the next 2.5 months.

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Challenges • There are less than 10 significant agencies/INGOs in the Delta to support shelter construction. Some agencies are planning to leave Myanmar by December due to lack of funding.

WASH

Needs assessments & Analysis • All WASH cluster partner INGOs are conducting water availability assessments across cyclone- affected townships, such as by IFRC/MRCS, French Red Cross (FRC)/MRCS, UNICEF, Save the Children, ADRA, Merlin, in their coverage villages. • UNICEF conducted a water needs assessment in Bogale, jointly with WHO and the Department of Health. • WASH cluster held a participatory township dry season workshop for Bogale on 27 November. This is the first of the series of township-level meetings to identify areas at risk of water shortage during the dry season and formulate coordinated response plans, according to locally available sources and coping mechanisms. • WASH cluster IM team is also conducting the analysis on the assessment forms of Pyapon and Labutta townships.

Response & Achievements • ACF is distributing water in Bogale since the first week of November. • In Labutta, Save the Children, UNICEF, FRC, UNDP and a local NGO Myitta Yazin, are sharing the responsibilities to cover the risk areas and commencing safe water supply and drilling of new tube wells in Ma Bay and Shaut Chaung village tracts.

Challenges • Whilst formal needs assessments take time to review and analyse, villagers are already approaching humanitarian agencies requesting for urgent assistance. For instance, the WASH cluster has received requests from two villages in Dedaye, through HelpAge International, and three villages in Labutta through the Local Resource Centre. • Cluster partners are exploring and sharing various modes of transportation to deliver water to communities in timely manner. Delivery to villages located behind embankment is particularly challenging.

CONTACTS

OCHA Yangon: OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Mr. Thierry Delbreuve Mr. Markus Werne Mob: +95 9 504 3425 Tel. +66 81 917 8940 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] UNIC Press Contact in Yangon: OCHA Press Contact in Bangkok: Mr. Aye Win (UN Information Centre) Ms. Amanda Pitt Tel: +95 1 546 933, +95 1 542 910 - 9 ext 110. Tel: +66 (0) 2288 1195 Mobile: +95 9 512 3952 Mob: +66 (0) 81374 1035 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] OCHA Asia and Pacific Desk New York: OCHA Myanmar Desk New York: Ms. Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu Mr. Ivan Lupis Tel: +1 212 963 1773 Tel. +1 917 367 2056 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] OCHA Press Contact in NY: OCHA Press Contact in Geneva: Ms. Stephanie Bunker Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel: +1 917 476 6164 Tel: +41 22 917 26 53 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

OCHA Situation Report on Myanmar Cyclone Nargis is issued on 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. All issues are available on ReliefWeb and Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) web site: http://myanmar.humanitarianinfo.org.

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