Myanmar• Cyclonic Storm GIRI Situation Report # 2 24 October 2010

Home , Cyclone Giri, Kyaukphyu, Kyaukpyu Township, Sittwe, Thandwe

This report was issued by OCHA Myanmar. It covers the period from 23 to 24 October. The next report will be issued on or around 25 October.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• The Myanmar Meteorology and Hydrology Department reports that the storm has weakened into a tropical depression. Tropical Storm Risk has removed cyclone GIRI from its tracking system since it weakened. • The Myanmar Red Cross Society is conducting assessments in seven affected townships of Rakhine State. Preliminary results in Kyaupyu indicate that at least 4,500 people have been affected, while at least 700 people have been affected in Munaung Township (an island off the coast of Rakhine State). • A donation centre has been established by the Government of the Union of Myanmar at the Fire Service Department in Yangon. Various national NGOs and private donors have already contributed rice and other relief items.

II. Situation Overview

Situation as at 24 October

Cyclone Giri made landfall in Rakhine State on 22 October, close to the town of Kyaukpyu. According to Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) and the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), the storm had developed into a category 4 cyclone by the time it made landfall, but quickly weakened to category 2 thereafter. The Myanmar Meteorology and Hydrology Department reports on 24 October that the storm has weakened into a tropical depression. Tropical Storm Risk has removed cyclone GIRI from its tracking system since it weakened.

Ahead of the cyclone reaching the coast, the Government of the Union of Myanmar had issued warnings to the population living in areas that could be affected by the heavy rains and powerful winds and organized the evacuation of a number of people to higher areas. The Red Cross, United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisations have mobilized their staff to respond. Partners present in the immediate surroundings of the

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. affected area have deployed assessment teams to Kyaukpyu and Ann and the closest areas to assess the damage.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement immediately made contact with the humanitarian community and the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and has welcomed support.

Kyaukpyu Township is situated on the western coast of Rakhine State and has an estimated population of 209,000 people. Communications with Kyaukpyu had been severed and remain difficult at the time of reproting. Kyaukpyu’s hospital is severely damaged according to the Government’s Health Authorities

Organisations mobilizing for the response include the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) Holland, Malteser, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR and UNDP, among others. Various local NGOs have already sent teams to the area to provide food and NFIs, in particular.

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

Organizations mobilizing stocks or already responding to the emergency are encouraged to contact OCHA to compile/share information to ensure a coordinated response. OCHA encourages agencies on the ground to use the Inter Agency Rapid Assessment Form (IRA), available in the Myanmar Contingency Plan.

The Red Cross has been conducting assessments in the areas affected and is planning to cover seven townships in Rakhine State through this exercise (Kyaukpyu, Sittwe, Munaung, Myebon, Pauktaw, Minbya). Information is so far available for Kyaukpyu Township, where at least 4,500 people (1,100 households) in five (5) villages are reported to have been affected, while one death is reported to date. In Munaung Township (an island situated off the coast of Rakhine State), 700 people have been affected by the cyclone. Data is not yet available for the other five (5) townships.

For Magway Division, the Red Cross reports 44 people (10 households) affected in Pwintbyu Township.

In Sagaing Division, the Red Cross reports that 2,055 people (341 households) have been affected in 15 villages of Sagaing Township.

Six Myanmar NGO representatives (Myanmar Health Assistant Association, Rakhine Conservation Association, Social Vision Services, Network Action Group, Myanmar Heart Development Organisation, Swe Tha Ha) are currently raising funds to provide emergency food asssitance for up to 5,000 affected people for one week in Kyaukpyu township. The assistance will be provided in collaboration with the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. Several additional local NGOs have already sent teams to the area to provide food and NFIs, in particular.

A donation centre has been established by the Government of the Union of Myanmar at the Fire Service Department in Yangon. Various national NGOs and private donors have already contributed rice and other relief items.

Local organisations wanting to assist the population in the affected area are requested to contact RRD in Yangon. A boat provided by the authorities in Yangon for the transport of relief supplies remains available.

Five (5) small boats have been mobilized in Northern Rakhine State by UNHCR, WFP and UNDP to support the efforts of the Government and the humanitarian community.

IRC has offered the support of staff specialized in WASH, livelihoods and health to contribute to assessments. Those staff are located in Sittwe and Buthidaung,

IV. Coordination

On 23 October several meetings were held in Yangon and in the field to coordinate the response and assessments in the affected areas. The UN, international NGOs, local NGOs and the Red Cross are mobilized.

The next coordination meeting of local and international NGOs and UN agencies will be held in Yangon on Monday, 25 October.

The Myanmar Information Management Unit has uploaded new Township planning maps for Rakhine State which can be found on www.themimu.info/hotml/maps/rakhine.html

OCHA has compiled information on stockpiles which organisations are ready to deploy to the affected regions. A summary table is attached to this Situation Report. A more detailed table is also available.

V. Funding

Funding needs will be assessed in the coming days as the priority is on mobilizing existing supplies to support the affected populations.

VI. Contact

Please contact: Myanmar: Thierry Delbreuve, Head of Office [email protected], +95 1 544 500 Ext. 801 or +95 (0) 95 11 26 52

Myanmar: Norwin Schafferer, Humanitarian Affairs Officer [email protected], +95 1 544 500 Ext. 808 or +95 (0) 98 61 08 48

New York: Alf Blikberg, Humanitarian Affairs Officer [email protected], +1-917-367-0215 Room 06060-A

Summary Table of Available Stockpiles

Contact Sector Item Location Total Number Units Agencies Shelter Tarpaulins (4x5 m) Maungdaw 110 Buthidaung 580 MRCS, Yangon 4,300 pcs UNICEF, Kyaukphyu 480 pcs UNHCR Sittwe 600 pcs Thandwe 400 pcs

Shelter Kits Kyaukphyu 285 pcs Sittwe 490 pcs MRCS Thandwe 200 pcs Yangon 1,000 pcs

WatSan Bleaching Power Sittwe 15 Yangon 95 UNICEF Yangon 183

Waterguards Yangon 30,000 UNICEF

Miscelleneous WASH items Bogale 860 pcs Solidarites

Food High energy biscuits Yanong 2,500 UNICEF

Rice (1,251 mt) NRS 1,251

Pulses (196 mt) NRS 196

Veg Oil (115 mt) NRS 115

Salt (11 mt) NRS 11 WFP

NFIs Family Kits Sittwe 500 Yangon 1,500

Family Kit Items (clothes, Kyaukphyu 11,555 pcs plates, soaps, etc) MRCS Sittwe 7,056 pcs Thandwe 7,500 pcs Yangon 7,500 pcs

Contact Sector Item Location Total Number Units Agencies

MRCS, Blankets Maungdaw 1,612 pcs UNHCR, ACF, CARE Buthidaung 470 UNHCR Kyaukphyu 565 pcs MRCS Sittwe 744 pcs Thandwe 400 pcs Yangon 2,000 pcs

MRCS, Mosquito Nets Maungdaw 1,184 UNHCR, ACF, CARE Buthidaung 527 UNHCR Kyaukphyu 270 pcs MRCS Sittwe 200 pcs Thandwe 500 pcs Yangon 1,000 pcs

Kitchen Sets Kyaukphyu 290 pcs MRCS Sittwe 411 pcs Thandwe 200 pcs Yangon 1,000 pcs

CARE, Bowls and culinaries Maungdaw 6,026 UNHCR, MRCS Buthidaung 13,780 UNHCR

Jerrycan, foldable, 10L Kyaukphyu 500 pcs MRCS Sittwe 744 pcs Thandwe 400 pcs Yangon 2,000 pcs

Hygienic Parcel for 5 persons Kyaukphyu 290 pcs MRCS Sittwe 411 pcs Thandwe 200 pcs Yangon 1010 pcs

Health IEHK, Basic Unit Yangon 173 UNICEF

First Aid Kit Yangon 13 The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Contact Sector Item Location Total Number Units Agencies

ORS, 1000 sachet /Ctn Yangon 227 Sittwe 4

B P 5 Yangon 2,544

IEHK, Basic Unit Sittwe 40