IRIN/Kahmu Village/June 2008

SAMPLE OF ORGANISATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CONSOLIDATED APPEALS

AARRECACFACTEDADRAAfricareAMI-FranceARCASBASIAVSICARECARITASCEMIR INTERNATIONALCESVICFACHFCHFICISVCMACONCERNConcern UniversalCOOPICORDAIDCOSV

CRSCWSDanchurchaidDDGDiakonie Emergency AidDRCEM-DHFAOFARFHIFinnchurchaidFrench RCFSDGAAGOALGTZGVCHandicap InternationalHealthNet TPOHELPHelpAge InternationalHKIHorn Relief

HTHumedicaIAILOIMCINTERMONInternewsINTERSOSIOMIPHDIRIRCIRDIRINIRWIslamic RWJOINJRSLWFMalaria ConsortiumMalteserMercy CorpsMDA

MDMMEDAIRMENTORMERLINNCANPANRCOCHAOHCHROXFAMPA (formerly ITDG)PACTPAIPlanPMU-IPURC/GermanyRCOSamaritan's PurseSECADEVSolidaritésSUDOTEARFUND

TGHUMCORUNAIDSUNDPUNDSSUNEPUNESCOUNFPAUN-HABITATUNHCRUNICEFUNIFEMUNJLCUNMASUNOPSUNRWAVISWFPWHOWorld ConcernWorld ReliefWVZOA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................................................................................................1

Table I. Requirements, Commitments/Contributions and Pledges – By Cluster...........................................................3Table II. Requirements, Commitments/Contributions and Pledges – By Appealing Organisation.................................4

2. RESPONSE REVIEW....................................................................................................................................5

3. THE CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ANALYSIS.....................................................................11

3.1 THE CONTEXT............................................................................................................................................113.2 HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ANALYSIS................................................................................................................113.3 SCENARIO.................................................................................................................................................. 153.4 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE.................................................................................15

4. RESPONSE PLANS....................................................................................................................................16

AGRICULTURE........................................................................................................................................................ 16EARLY RECOVERY: ECONOMIC RECOVERY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION............18EDUCATION........................................................................................................................................................... 20FOOD.................................................................................................................................................................... 22HEALTH................................................................................................................................................................. 25NUTRITION............................................................................................................................................................. 27PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN..................................................................................................................28SHELTER................................................................................................................................................................ 29WASH (WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE)...........................................................................................................31COORDINATION AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................34EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS.......................................................................................................................36LOGISTICS.............................................................................................................................................................. 36SAFETY AND SECURITY...........................................................................................................................................37

5. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION AND PRIORITISATION OF PROJECTS....................................................39

6. SUMMARY: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE.......................................40

7. CLUSTER APPROACH IN MYANMAR......................................................................................................50

ANNEX I.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES....................................51

ANNEX II.

THEMATIC MAPS................................................................................................................................................... 61

ANNEX III.

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................................72

Please note that appeals are revised regularly. The latest version of this document is available on http://www.humanitarianappeal.net

iii

iv

MYANMAR

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, causing widespread devastation in the Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. The scale of human loss and suffering was vast. According to the latest official figures, nearly 140,000 persons are either dead or “missing” (more precisely 84,537 killed, 53,836 still unaccounted for); and nearly 20,000 have been injured. Some 2.4 million people are thought to be severely affected (in the sense of loss of livelihoods, shelter, or similarly severe loss) – equivalent to more than a third of the population of 7.3 million in the affected Townships – with up to 800,000 people displaced from their homes. Nargis was the worst natural disaster in the history of Myanmar, and possibly the most devastating cyclone to hit Asia since the cyclone that struck Bangladesh in 1991. The impact on the Ayeyarwady Delta, a remote area, heavily populated and difficult to access, was particularly severe: in addition to the lives and livelihoods lost, the timing and extent of the natural disaster greatly affected the critical planting season in what is Myanmar’s breadbasket region, with significant quantities of seeds and harvested crops lost.

The humanitarian response was as multi-faceted as it was generous. The people of Myanmar and the Myanmar Red Cross Society immediately responded to the plight of their countrymen. A UN-NGO Flash Appeal for US1$187 million was issued for Myanmar on 9 May, six days after the cyclone, and is 96% funded vis-à-vis that original target before this revision. Despite initial reluctance from the Government of the Union of Myanmar to countenance such a large aid operation, international agencies and their partners have assisted people with food, shelter, water, health, nutrition and education over the last ten weeks. The response to date has also been notable for the regional solidarity shown to Myanmar by member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other neighbours. ASEAN was also a linchpin stakeholder which played a “bridging” role between Myanmar and the international community. The Government also responded, not least through showing the vital flexibility necessary to bring in more assistance from the outside.

As the aid effort expanded, a Tripartite Core Group, consisting of high-level representatives of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, ASEAN and the UN, was established on 25 May as a joint response framework designed to oversee the coordination of relief assistance. One of its critical achievements has been the execution of a massive, two-component UN-ASEAN-Government Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PoNJA) mission which identified key humanitarian needs in the affected areas through the Village Tract Assessment (VTA), and recovery needs through the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA). Although the final report is not set to be released until 21 July, the results of the VTA have been used to inform this Appeal.

From this wide-ranging assessment and the observations made by the clusters and agencies over nearly ten weeks of operations, it is clear that humanitarian needs remain significant. Moreover, they require a more comprehensive and prolonged response than the Flash Appeal’s six-month planning horizon. For example, while the majority of the affected population in the northern part of the Delta have received some assistance, outstanding relief needs continue to plague its more remote southern areas. High levels of vulnerability persist in those geographic areas that have not yet been reached by relief assistance due to various logistical or infrastructural constraints. Immediate agricultural assistance is needed within the current planting season, to speed the end of food aid dependence. Innumerable other needs have been identified that are likely to persist for, or whose response will unfold over, eight to ten more months.

Issues of access, logistics, infrastructure/transportation, weather, seasonal imperatives – especially as regards the current monsoon planting season – present a complex mix of humanitarian and early recovery needs, which compels the IASC Country Team to substantially revise the original Flash Appeal into a year-long response plan. Building on various assessment outcomes, agencies and partners have developed humanitarian response plans through the cluster approach, outlining strategies and actions for addressing ongoing humanitarian needs of the cyclone-affected population into 2009, including taking advantage of opportunities for early recovery that reduce the affected population’s aid dependence and start to undo the socio-economic setbacks caused by the cyclone.

This plan, drawn up in the context of the evolving operational experience gained to date and structured around the results of the PoNJA, maintains the same sectoral focus, with additional emphasis on elements of early recovery and cross-cutting issues. Special attention will be paid to the most

1 All dollar signs in this document denote United States dollars. Funding for this appeal should be reported to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS, fts@reliefweb.int), which will display its requirements and funding on the CAP 2008 page.

1

MYANMAR

vulnerable sections of the affected population, including children, women, the elderly, and households headed thereby. People displaced from their homes are particularly vulnerable as well: two months after the cyclone, 14% of the villages still have temporary settlements with displaced persons who will continue to rely on outside support.

Food aid requirements will be adjusted relative to estimated harvests and in line with data generated by the PoNJA. Simultaneously with the agricultural/nutritional concerns, humanitarian assistance will also be directed towards the provision of water and sanitation; non-agricultural income generation; health/reproductive health; protection; education; and shelter activities. Logistics (air) support will be scaled down as surface transport systems regain momentum. Telecommunications support has been, and will remain, essential for effective and efficient field operations. Effective response coordination will continue through the inter–agency cluster approach.

This plan expands the flash appeal into 103 projects in 13 key sectors, submitted by 13 UN agencies and 23 non-governmental organisations to assist 2.4 million people most severely affected by Cyclone Nargis, with a planning horizon until April 2009. The total amount requested to address the needs identified in this appeal amounts to $481.8 million, of which $178 million has already been committed in response to the original flash appeal, leaving an unmet requirement of $303.6 million.

Some basic facts about Myanmar Population 51,500,000 people (UNFPA SWP 2007) Under-five mortality 104 p/1,000 (UNICEF 2006) Life expectancy 59.9 years (UNDP HDR 2006) Prevalence of undernourishment in

total population5% (FAO Statistical Division 2004 estimate)

Gross national income per capita n/a Percentage of population living on

less than $1 per dayn/a

Proportion of population without sustainable access to an improved drinking water source

22% (UNDP HDR 2006)

ECHO Vulnerability and Crisis Index score (V/C)

2/3

2006 UNDP Human Development Index score

0.583: 132nd of 177: medium human development

Also: 242,000 people are living with HIVAIDS (MoH 2008) Maternal mortality stands as 380/100,000 (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bank,

Maternal Mortality in 2005, Published in 2008))

2

MYANMAR

Table I. Requirements, Commitments/Contributions and Pledges – By Cluster

3

MYANMAR

Table II. Requirements, Commitments/Contributions and Pledges – By Appealing Organisation

4

MYANMAR

2. RESPONSE REVIEW

ContextCyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, making landfall in the Ayeyarwady Division and hitting Yangon. With wind speeds of up to 200 km/h, the damage was most severe in the delta region, where the effects of the extreme winds were compounded by a sizable storm surge.2 The latest official figures put the number of dead or missing at nearly 140,000. The situation regarding the displaced population, especially those in camps, is very fluid but best estimates suggest that the number of people displaced by the cyclone may have been as high as 800,000 with some 260,000 people having resided in camps or settlements throughout the delta in the initial weeks following the cyclone.3 There was widespread devastation, with the near-total destruction of fields and shelter in areas that were directly hit by the cyclone, in addition to downed power and communication lines and other loss of infrastructure affecting a broader area.

According to the Government, and reflected in the findings of the VTA, 37 townships were significantly affected by the cyclone in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Areas that suffered from the greatest impact of the cyclone were: eastern Ngapudaw, Labutta, Mawlamyinegyun and Bogale townships (south of 16’10’ latitude). Pyapon, Dedaye, Kaiklat of Ayeyarwady Division and Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Twantay, and Kyauktan townships of Yangon Division also suffered great losses but to a somewhat lesser degree (south of 16’30’ latitude). Other hard-hit areas include townships along the Yangon River, Dala, Dagon Myothit (Seikkan), Seikgyikanaungto, and peri-urban areas such as Hlaingtharya in Yangon Division.

From the beginning of the emergency, access was the key issue. The terrain of the most affected areas offered considerable challenges in identifying populations at need, and then delivering assistance to them. Additionally, the Government was initially hesitant to provide access for international humanitarian aid workers, yet it soon became evident that the extent of damage exceeded the national capacity to respond. International relief efforts were required to complement the efforts of national actors.

At first, outside help was hampered by visa regulations that held up critically-needed emergency relief experts and a sufficient supply of humanitarian goods. However, the United Nations Secretary-General’s meeting with Myanmar’s Senior General Than Shwe on 23 May, which was preceded by the Emergency Relief Coordinator’s mission to the country, produced an agreement to allow all humanitarian aid workers, regardless of nationality, into the affected areas; to expedite the visa process; and to allow the establishment of a number of logistical hubs for aid distribution, including Yangon airport. Stemming from this meeting and from the international pledging conference on 25 May, a Tripartite Core Group (TCG) – composed of high-level representatives of the Government, ASEAN and the United Nations (UN) – was established to become the indispensable mechanism for coordinating relief operations. It would also spearhead the PoNJA mission and facilitate access and travel of international aid workers into the affected areas.

In the wake of these two developments, greater access into the country has since been possible, and international organisations have largely received the entry visas they sought. Myanmar embassies around the world have issued visas to humanitarian workers from the UN, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), albeit with some delays at times. As of 6 July, more than 320 visas have been issued to UN staff arriving in the country for the Nargis response, and visa extensions to UN staff have in all but a few exceptional cases been approved. NGOs also fared better as time passed, but the process was less straightforward, often due to conflicting procedural information conveyed by various embassies in different capitals.

While more than 270 international UN staff and at least as many international staff from NGOs have travelled to affected areas as of 6 July, many internationals were initially restricted to Yangon during the first weeks following the cyclone, and this commensurately impeded data collection and the refining of needs assessments. However, over the course of the response, negotiations, meetings and liaison with Government counterparts has allowed internationals to be increasingly deployed into the Delta for longer periods of time. UN helicopters, initially resisted by the authorities, were given

2 Eye-witness accounts suggest that the tidal surge in southern Bogale was between three to four meters in height.3 Information compiled by the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator from various sources, including Government, MRCS, and NGOs.

5

MYANMAR

6

MYANMAR

permission to fly in the affected areas from 2 June, and have since made a marked difference in reaching vulnerable populations in all corners of the Delta.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Country Team, chaired by the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and attended by UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement4 and NGOs, is the primary coordination forum for international organisations. It is where strategic priorities are set and implementation is monitored. Furthermore, detailed operational planning and coordination at the technical level are addressed through the clusters. To date, a coordinated, accountable and coherent response has been able to evolve and the progress and achievements have been tracked through these forums.

On 3 May 2008, the Myanmar Prime Minister convened a meeting of the national Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee (NDPCC), where ten sub-committees were formed to implement relief and rehabilitation tasks. The Prime Minister opened an office in Yangon to coordinate efforts, and the Government has reported that Kyat 50 billion is earmarked for overall relief and recovery efforts. Initial Government efforts focussed on setting up relief camps, field hospitals, clearing of main roads, and restoring basic services. The NDPCC plans to phase its work from relief to short-term resettlement, to longer-term reconstruction, and finally to preparedness and prevention of future disasters. The Government also demonstrated that it is willing and able to grant “multiple-entry” permits for internationals working in the affected areas. Thus, as the response continues to unfold, efforts to provide faster, unrestricted and, ultimately wider humanitarian support to the affected populations in the delta must not diminish.

Relief assistance delivered so far through the Flash Appeal

Key facts and figures of response to date by clusterAgriculture and Early Recovery

A joint FAO-Government needs assessment highlighted the complex logistics involved in distributing agricultural inputs, as well as the urgent need for procurement of local and high yielding paddy rice seeds, fertiliser, power tillers, diesel, draught animals and animal vaccines.

Distribution of these inputs to 40,900 farming households is underway in 11 of the most affected townships of the two Divisions of Yangon and Ayeyarwady.

While it is unlikely that produce will be sufficient for all affected populations, efforts are being directed towards not losing the full planting season. Alternative crop strategies have been identified to mitigate the negative impact of the cyclone on the planting season.

Quick impact projects focusing on immediate clean-up and debris removal and the restoration of community infrastructure, are facilitating access for delivery of urgently needed assistance while supporting families and communities in rebuilding their lives.

By the end of June, a basic services package had provided early recovery support to 250 villages, reaching an estimated population of 113,000; such support can be quickly expanded under the Revised Appeal.

An early recovery network has been set up for inter-cluster coordination, and thematic working groups are addressing areas not covered by other clusters.

Other observations/findings The first response in many of the cyclone-affected areas was carried out by the

communities themselves, with an important role played by monasteries, churches, local civil society groups and NGOs. Valuable support has also been provided by the Government of Myanmar and the private sector.

Preparation of the land for the up-coming rice planting season, which needs to take place before the end of July, has been hampered by lack of draught animals (e.g. buffalo).

Education In Yangon (11 townships) 46 temporary schools set up benefiting 7,248 children and 280 teachers. Essential learning packages (exercise books, pencils, erasers, etc) provided to

52,610 children. 435 Schools-in-a-Box and 459 Recreation Kits distributed benefiting 34,800 children. Repairs of 440 primary school roofs (government, monastic and affiliated) initiated

using 16,271 roofing sheets. In Ayeyarwady (ten townships) Essential learning packages provided for 59,600 children in six townships (including

Labutta, Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun, Pyapon).

4 The ICRC attends the IASC Country Team meetings in an observer capacity.

7

MYANMAR

367 Schools-in-a-Box and 317 Recreation Kits distributed benefiting 29,360 children.

824 primary school roofs repaired with 29,354 roofing sheets and tarpaulins. 123 tents provided to Labutta and Bogale Townships; of which 48 set up to provide

temporary learning spaces. Tarpaulins provided to 18 affiliated and monastic schools in Wakema Township. One informal school in a camp in Labutta set up by recruiting high school students

in the camp to teach younger students at primary and middle school level.Food As of 3 July, a total of 18,703 metric tonnes (MTs) of food assistance has been

delivered to the affected areas, of which 14,564 MTs has been distributed. The Food Cluster has now reached a total of approximately 733,490 beneficiaries

with food and cash assistance: 684,000 in the Ayeyarwady Division (food) and a further 49,490 in the Yangon Division (cash transfer).

12 cooperating partners working around the clock with WFP to ensure outreach to previously unreachable areas for food distribution

Health Disease surveillance: no outbreaks reported. Nutrition More than 200 tonnes of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RTF) has been distributed by

UNICEF to partners who have already started supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes in the field.

Existing State and Divisional Nutritional Teams and local NGOs are fully involved in micronutrient supplementation and identification/management of acute malnutrition through the vast existing network of midwives and rural health sub-centres.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with UNICEF has been able to establish four hospital therapeutic feeding units in affected areas and dozens of workers are trained in targeted feeding.

Staffing, training and initial assessments have enabled delivery systems to be in line with national guidelines on micronutrient supplementation, to avoid duplication, and to ensure that all of the most vulnerable are reached.

Protection of Woman and Children

Protection assessment carried out jointly by cluster members and information systematically shared with key partners regarding child registration, interim care, family tracing and reunification. Some key data includes: The mortality rate of women between the ages of 18 to 60 years was twice that

of men in the same age range; At least 22% of the affected population suffer from post-cyclone psychosocial

distress; Only 12% of the affected population reported availability of child care services

(including day care, schools and orphanages). Sub-clusters activated in affected areas to coordinate and support community-based

protection networks. Technical support provided to the development of a National Plan of Action for Child

Protection in Emergencies by the Department for Social Welfare 132 child friendly spaces (CFS) functioning, and includes the provision of

psychosocial support to children. 30,000 Dignity Kits, 398 early childhood development kits and 1,519 child protection

kits have been distributed to vulnerable women and children. UNFPA also distributed emergency reproductive health kits and supplies to provide

care to approximately 450,000 people in affected areasShelter As of 30 June, the humanitarian community has provided some form of emergency

shelter assistance to over 195,000 cyclone-affected households living in 11 townships in Ayeyarwady Division and 29 townships in Yangon Division. To date, the following has been provided;

390,000 plastic sheets/tarpaulins (4mx6m sheets, two per household); 19,000 community tool kits (one kit per five families); 7,000 household relief kits (two blankets, two mosquito nets, water container,

cooking sets and sanitary materials per household).WASH 800,000 litres of water supplied to 250,000 persons per day through 29 water

treatment plants. Nearly 250 ponds rehabilitated. In spite of poor living conditions in camps, and contamination of water sources in the

villages, there has been no alarming increase in incidence of diarrhoea as per WHO disease surveillance reports.

Common Support ServicesCoordination Overall coordination structures strengthened at Yangon level after the cyclone to

support planning, fundraising, and delivery. Common humanitarian action plans developed through the cluster approach, and are

monitored through the IASC country team. Initially a United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team was deployed

for this support. This was replaced by an OCHA team to provide support to the HC’s

8

MYANMAR

Office. Situation reports detailing the current situation and response efforts at the national

and international levels have been compiled and disseminated regularly. The Myanmar Information Management Unit provides an updated range of products

including maps, databases and contact directories. An early recovery network has been set up for inter-cluster coordination, while

complementary thematic working groups are addressing early recovery areas that are not covered by other clusters (non-agricultural livelihoods; social recovery; community infrastructure; environment; and disaster risk reduction).

As early recovery efforts gain momentum over relief needs, OCHA support to the Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator will be handed over to the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator.

Emergency Telecommunica-tions

Emergency Data communication support was provided in Yangon, Laputta and Bogale, Pyapon, Mawlamyingyun and Pathein, allowing UN agencies, NGOS and Government to better coordinate assessment, rescue and relief operations in the Ayeyarwady Division and the Yangon valley.

Logistics Five logistics hubs (Labutta, Mawlamyingyun, Pathein, Pyapon, Bogale) established in the affected areas;

7,645 MTs cargo dispatched into Myanmar by the Logistics Cluster; Total estimated number of relief aircrafts which delivered supplies to date: 528,

including: Donor (Government) flights: 260, including 185 USAID flights, 22 DFID flights,

19 Thai flights; UN Flights: 89 including 39 WFP flights; NGO Flights: 89; IFRC Flights: 79.

Web-based logistics information service established. Warehouse facilities were also set up in Yangon, from where relief goods were

distributed using ten helicopters, 33 trucks and seven boats/barges. 89 remote locations have been reached through 466 rotations of ten helicopters.

The field hubs allocated warehouse space to all interested UN agencies and NGOs and organised supply delivery to targeted locations

As the immediate relief operations scale down, the logistics cluster will phase out by helping agencies to prepare their own transport arrangements as of August.

For additional information on responding agencies, sectors and geographical coverage, see Who What Where maps in the annexes.

FundingAccording to information obtained by the OCHA Financial Tracking Service (FTS), $313,704,035 in total has been committed for Myanmar relief operations as of 9 July, including contributions to the Flash Appeal, contributions to organisations outside of the Flash Appeal, and bilateral donations to the Government of Myanmar. An additional $37,785,023 has been pledged.

Launched on 9 May, the Myanmar Cyclone Flash Appeal originally requested $187.3 million to carry out emergency relief activities over a six-month period. The appeal included 49 projects in 12 sectors, involving ten UN agencies and nine international NGOs. Initial response to the Myanmar emergency arrived quickly, particularly in the first two weeks following the launch. The following table and chart outline response levels two, four, six and eight weeks following the launch of the Flash Appeal.

Date Total Humanitarian Funding* per fortnight Flash Appeal Funding per fortnight

Date Funding (contributed or committed) % of total Funding (contributed or

committed) % of total

23/05 217,795,335 69% 116,765,161 66%06/06 46,643,012 15% 17,596,535 10%20/06 16,753,927 5% 13,996,314 8%09/07 32,511,761 10% 29,871,519 17%

TOTAL $313,704,035 100% $178,229,529 100%*Flash Appeal and humanitarian contributions outside the Appeal.

9

MYANMAR

$0 million

$50 million

$100 million

$150 million

$200 million

$250 million

$300 million

$350 million

5-May

-08

12-M

ay-08

19-M

ay-08

26-M

ay-08

2-Jun

-08

9-Jun

-08

16-Ju

n-08

23-Ju

n-08

30-Ju

n-08

7-Jul-

08

Total humanitarianfundingFlash Appeal funding

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $22.4 million to projects in the Flash Appeal within a week of the disaster. CERF is currently the third largest channel for funds to the Appeal (12.6% of total Appeal contributions). The CERF contribution provided funding for UN agencies and their implementing partners to address the most urgent life-saving needs in the agriculture, coordination and support services, food, health, shelter and non-food items, and water and sanitation sectors.

The Myanmar Government, Myanmar-based civil society organizations, and private enterprises and individuals in Myanmar also responded swiftly and very generously to assist the cyclone victims. The official state-run newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, reported that individual cash and in-kind donations amounting to 12.4 billion Kyat had been accepted by the Government’s financial sub-committee as of 15 June. The positive impact of these contributions became evident during the field surveys for the post-Nargis joint assessment.

Other private cash and in-kind contributions to the Myanmar emergency have also been significant. In fact, private donors make up the largest donor group to the Flash Appeal ($48 million or 27.1%), and indeed to total international humanitarian aid for Cyclone Nargis ($66 million or 20.8% of the total). More than 90 private corporations, foundations, individuals and ecclesiastical groups have contributed to relief operations, including 18 UNICEF National Committees ($20.1 million) and 22 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ($4.6 million). The true figure is likely to be higher, as reporting by private donors to FTS is voluntary and shown by anecdotal evidence to be incomplete.

Based on the results of assessments and a more complete analysis of humanitarian needs, the revised Flash Appeal presents requirements for $481,803,946. Of this amount, $178,229,529 has already been funded (37%), leaving unmet requirements of $303,574,417. An additional $21,724,810 of pledges to Appeal projects and organisations await commitment.

10

Health$5,228,181

Food$5,023,602

Agriculture$2,000,000

Coordination andSupport Services

$4,451,125

Water and Sanitation$2,867,600

Shelter andNon-Food Items

$2,846,858

MYANMAR

3. THE CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ANALYSIS

3.1 THE CONTEXT Early assessment data, and more recent data from the PoNJA, suggests that some 2.4 million people were severely affected by the cyclone, out of an estimated 7.35 million people5 living in the affected Townships. Given the devastation of homes and infrastructure, loss of agricultural land, and loss of access to fishing grounds due to persistent flooding and the shifting of sands, many people have been displaced and are currently staying either in government-run settlements or informal temporary shelters such as monasteries, schools and other public buildings. The number of people in these settlements/shelters fluctuates as people attempt to return home and settlements are consolidated or disbanded. Complicating relief and early recovery efforts has been the arrival of the monsoon rains, which are expected to continue until October.

Difficult geographic accessThe vast geographical extent of the affected area means that international relief efforts are still required to complement the support provided by national actors. The cyclone-affected area of the Ayeyarwady Delta is 23,500 square kilometres, almost twice the size of Lebanon or half the size of Bhutan, but without the benefit of similar road and telecommunications infrastructure. The area is a flat triangle of land, mangrove swamps and tidal estuaries, divided into islands and peninsulas by many large rivers and smaller waterways.

Roads outside a 15-mile radius of Yangon are usually muddy (deteriorating further during the monsoon season) and peter out to the south, where the only means of surface transport to villages is by water. Large barges and boats can navigate the larger waterways, but many were destroyed by the cyclone. In the smaller waterways, the local population uses long boats with very narrow beams which are not suitable for carrying bulky or heavy cargo; many such boats were damaged or destroyed by the cyclone and attendant tidal waves. Such river boats are seldom used in the open sea around the coast.

Therefore, to access the more remote villages, which would normally take three to four days by boat, helicopters have enabled accelerated delivery of humanitarian assistance and assessment personnel. However, both assessment teams and helicopter pilots have discovered a mismatch between official lists of villages and those existing on the ground. This complicates the maintenance of standardised information regarding delivery of assistance.

3.2 HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ANALYSIS The PoNJA conducted field surveys from 9 to 19 June, involving some 250 assessment personnel visiting 30 of the worst-affected townships. The assessment involved humanitarian needs (VTA) and damage components (DaLA). Findings from the PoNJA (see box below) provide an overarching picture of needs, and have informed an analysis that complements agency specific assessments upon which this appeal is based.

The PoNJA clearly demonstrated that Cyclone Nargis not only caused a devastating loss of life in the Ayeyarwady Delta and southern townships of Yangon Division of Myanmar, but also had a significant impact on peoples’ lives and livelihoods. With 42% of villages identifying the loss of livelihoods as their primary early recovery challenge, their capacity to spontaneously recover from the disaster is at risk, for several reasons. 76% of the surveyed population reported lack of access to credit. Vital community-level infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed: 72% of villages require urgent rehabilitation of schools and educational facilities, 59% of villages identified religious institutions as a priority for repair, and 32% of villages require restoration of health facilities. In addition, social networks have been broken or severely disrupted; households have lost all of their basic and vital assets, such as cooking equipment, tools, clothing, and animals along with many family members.

5 Average between Government and UNICEF/Department of Health figures

11

MYANMAR

The VTA further deepened and broadened the data available to relief agencies: Many areas and most villages had received some kind of relief support, but not necessarily the

total level of assistance required. For example, 55% of surveyed households had one day’s stock of food or less.

Even more vulnerable are the displaced populations living in temporary settlements, women and children, and those living in areas that are not yet reached by relief assistance. At least 260,000 people were living in camps or temporary settlements throughout the Delta as of the third week of May.

In addition, many people sought shelter with extended family, friends and neighbours, creating a total displaced population of up to 800,000 which however is proving very hard to track.

Recent assessments show five types of living conditions of the cyclone-affected population, with the proportion of people within each group changing daily as people return to their villages:

1) camps or temporary settlements; 2) villages;3) urban/peri urban communities;

12

The Myanmar Relief and Early Recovery Village Tract Assessment In the weeks following Cyclone Nargis (2-3 May 2008), the Government, UN and NGO organisations conducted assessments whenever they could reach an affected community. Following the UN-ASEAN pledging conference, held in Yangon on 25 May 2008, the TCG – which was established to oversee the coordination of relief assistance – agreed on the need to conduct a multi-sectoral assessment. The TCG, which was comprised of high level-representatives of the Government, ASEAN and the UN, decided that this assessment should look at both the needs for relief assistance (Village Tract Assessment) and longer-term recovery efforts (Damage and Loss Assessment). These two components would feed into the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment.

The first component, the VTA, is the first attempt in Myanmar to make a standardised and comparable assessment across all key sectors throughout the cyclone-affected areas. The VTA has: Identified priority needs to address in the immediate future; Measured areas where there are information gaps; Created a common information base shared between the sectors; Provided baseline information for future monitoring and evaluation activities; Established a foundation for a comprehensive survey.

This rapid overview assessment provides critical information for planning future interventions and strategies.

Methodology There has been broad engagement across the humanitarian community in setting up the methodology for the VTA, with the clusters actively participating in defining the questions used. These questions then needed to be sorted by information source, as expected responses were based on a mix of observations, key informant responses, focus group discussions, and household responses.

The sample size for the VTA covers about 10% of all village tracts in 30 of the most affected townships. The 30 township scope of the VTA represented a consensus among major stakeholders. A grid of 15km by 15km was overlaid on a map of the area to be assessed. The village nearest to the centre of each square in the grid was included in the assessment, with subsequent villages selected by proximity to the first. In this way, there was an even geographic spread of villages across the affected townships. In each village, ten households were included in the sample. In addition, there were interviews with several key informants (male and female focus groups), and a summary of village observations. (See map in Annex II.)

Data has been collected by 32 enumerator teams, comprising 5 individuals each, working out of Yangon and 5 regional hubs during a period of 10 days. In total, the enumerator and hub coordination teams comprised over 200 people from the UN, non-governmental organisations, volunteers, and 27 staff from the national government. The survey was conducted in complete transparency, with teams reaching all parts of the affected delta and conducting interviews in an open way. Villagers were generally confident when engaging the survey team. All villages in the VTA survey have been mapped, taking in the geographical information system to confirm the spatial accuracy of the data.

The collected data was entered at hub and Yangon level by a team of 40 data entry specialist working around the clock. The data was subsequently analysed by statisticians and a team of experts from each cluster. This appeal is based on the findings of the VTA as well as agency specific assessments.

VTA resultsVTA results are presented throughout the revised humanitarian appeal for Cyclone Nargis.

MYANMAR

4) mobile or scattered households; and 5) host communities.

As of the first week of June, many camps and settlements had been dismantled and people have started to return to their communities of origin on a large scale. Yet 14% of the villages still have temporary settlements.

The VTA also improved current humanitarian coverage: the Assessment found various villages where aid had not been delivered; all these villages were reached by the different Clusters with aid within 36 hours.

The VTA also showed that the scope and devastation of Cyclone Nargis had rendered women and children particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect. As for displaced populations, traditional social structures and support systems have been disrupted. Children separated from their families, child-headed households, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable children are in need of special support. Unaccompanied women, women-headed households, and women exposed to violence and abuse require access to comprehensive protection and support services which are not sufficiently in place and need to be strengthened.

It should also be noted that pre-cyclone baseline data indicate pervasive poverty in the affected areas of the delta, affecting an average 83% of households (SC 2007, UNDP 2006). While recognising the population’s remarkable resilience, the cyclone-affected people who already had limited resources and further aggravated unemployment, which has increased from 16% to 27% of the workforce in the affected area. Hence, it is important that relief be joined by early recovery efforts as soon as circumstances allow, to avoid aid dependency and to promote self-reliance.

Humanitarian Aid and Essential ServicesPopulation and socio-economic groups that are particularly hard hit by Cyclone Nargis include displaced women and children, farmers (including agrarian, maricultural and aquacultural), coastal and fishing communities, rural casual wage earner families, and urban dwellers. The cyclone destroyed physical assets in villages, such as buildings, bridges, warehouses, schools, jetties and fish/shrimp ponds, inundated paddy land with sea water, and, above all, washed away household assets, including food stocks from the most recent harvest (April/May).

This left many people in a situation of food insecurity. 684,000 people have been reached with food commodities, yet the quantities distributed so far have been limited. An urgent need remains to meet the basic food needs of some 924,000 vulnerable persons on a systematic basis in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions until the October/November 2008 harvest lowers the need for food assistance. Where applicable, nutritional supplements should be provided to avoid malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating women.

The initial significant displacement and destruction of dwellings need to be met with shelter and adequate clean drinking water. Emergency shelter and non-food items (NFI) have been provided to over 195,000 cyclone-affected households living in the Ayerwaddy division and Yangon division. This represents over 30% of the families in need of shelter assistance. In accordance with the Emergency Shelter Strategic Framework, an additional 450,000 plastic sheets/tarpaulins, 60,000 community tool kits, and 230,000 household relief kits are planned for distribution.

With the monsoon season underway, initial recovery activities will ensure that families have some form of shelter from the elements and help to reacquire earthen pots with which to harvest rainwater, the dominant source of clean drinking water. As 74% of the people consider their current access to clean water to be inadequate, restoration of local mechanisms for harvesting clean water will reduce the risk of diarrhoeal and other diseases.

The cyclone has had a profound impact on the lives and development of children. In addition to the many children who were killed and wounded, the use of schools as emergency shelter sites (if not damaged) further strained the limited educational resources in the Delta. Restored school facilities are helping children to return to class, providing child-friendly learning environments to meet peers, and contributing to overcome trauma. 73% of surveyed households said that education was the main priority in rebuilding village facilities.

Psycho-social distress and trauma as a result of the loss of loved ones and friends is evident among adults as well, based on the finding that 23% of surveyed households reporting psychological stress. Appropriate interventions to address trauma and mental health are as important as maintaining

13

MYANMAR

surveillance of communicable diseases within restored health services, to address basic health concerns.

Early RecoveryPrior to the disaster, a large number of households were already living in acute poverty in the affected areas. The cyclone severely compounded their pre-existing vulnerability and impacted dramatically on their lives and livelihoods as well as on their capacity to recover from the disaster. Losses in crops, animals, fisheries and forestry include damage to 63% of paddy land, and the loss of up to 85% of seed stocks. The loss of draught animals and power tillers affects 52,121 farmers, who will have difficulty in planting monsoon rice between June and August. This translates into a loss of production on some 183,425 hectares of paddy land, or 32% of the area most severely affected by the cyclone in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. This will not only have a major impact on the self-reliance of families, but on communities as a whole. One-third of surveyed people report that fisheries and agriculture had been their main source of income, but that they are now unable to rely on this source of income. Alternative income generation will be required for those who had found day labour during harvest seasons.

The landless poor have lost basic livelihood capital goods, such as farm tools used for seasonal agricultural labour. Individuals engaged in small retail trade, trade-based services, transport and commercial industries have also lost their capital assets. Peri-urban areas of the townships in southern Yangon sustained serious damage and destruction, particularly to micro-enterprise activities. 70% of the affected population report that they currently have no access to credit, significantly reducing their capacity to restart livelihoods without some form of external assistance. Vital community-level infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed. 72% of villages require urgent rehabilitation of schools and educational facilities, 53% of villages have identified religious institutions as a priority for repair, and 32% of villages require restoration of health facilities. In addition, social networks have been broken or severely disrupted; households have lost all of their basic and vital assets, such as cooking equipment, tools, clothing, and animals along with many family members.

In light of this critical situation, it is not surprising that some 42% of all surveyed villagers have identified the loss of livelihoods as their primary challenge in the early stages of recovery. Therefore, even as the provision of immediate life saving relief activities continues to address existing gaps, early recovery efforts must also be sustained and intensified, so as to help the victims of the cyclone to start rebuilding their lives.

14

MYANMAR

3.3 SCENARIO

Based upon planning that took into account an assessment of the worst-case, most likely, and best-case scenarios, the IASC Country Team’s planning assumptions are as follows: Rainy season causes some flooding, drawing some resources and attention away from the

cyclone-affected areas; Disease outbreaks in cyclone-affected areas and beyond are largely contained; Although there remain small pockets of displacement, those displaced by the cyclone largely

return voluntarily to their home locations or resettle in new locations; Government continues to welcome international organisations to provide relief and early recovery

assistance to the cyclone-affected population, easing procedures to work in the affected areas; Although constraints to physical access persist, most of the affected areas can be reached; International organisations experience delays with visas and travel authorisations, yet are able to

ensure minimum level of programme implementation; Basic humanitarian needs of the cyclone-affected population are largely addressed and the

affected population is largely supported to ensure sustainable recovery.

3.4 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE Strategic priorities have been agreed by the IASC Country Team in Myanmar in close consultation with donors and agencies involved with relief and early recovery activities. These priorities take into account current humanitarian needs as well as likely developments during the course of this response plan. The strategy and key indicators determined by these priorities are further detailed in the sector response plans in the next chapter.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY I: ADDRESS THE BASIC HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF THE CYCLONE-AFFECTED POPULATION

StrategyProvision of timely, coordinated and adequate standards of Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Education, Health, Nutrition, Food, Shelter and Protection, as well as vital support services such as Emergency Telecommunications, Information Management and Logistics, to cyclone-affected populations.

Key indicators Age- and gender-disaggregated percentage of cyclone-affected population having access to

sufficient food, adequate shelter and basic NFIs, safe drinking water and other essential services;

Malnutrition, morbidity and mortality rates among children.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY II: EARLY RECOVERY TO BEGIN REBUILDING THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF THE CYCLONE-AFFECTED POPULATION

StrategyEarly recovery efforts will focus on supporting affected communities to start rebuilding their lives and livelihoods, to access revitalised basic services, and to start reducing their vulnerability to future disasters. Early recovery interventions aim to move beyond dependence on direct relief assistance, and to establish a foundation for longer-term recovery. Following a community-based approach, people would be supported to generate self-sustaining, locally owned, resilient processes for post-crisis recovery.

Key indicator Percentage of worst-affected communities supported in efforts to start restoring their lives and

livelihoods, access revitalised essential services, and build their capacity to withstand and recover from future disasters

15

MYANMAR

4. RESPONSE PLANS

AGRICULTURE

Lead Agency - FAONeeds Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)FAO conducted a needs assessment with the Government, from 26 May to 8 June 2008, to assess the cyclone’s impact on people’s livelihoods.6 The FAO assessment reported the losses in crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry; quantified the most vulnerable groups in each sub-sector; and identified emergency needs of these groups for the restoration of their livelihoods in 11 of the 19 townships most severely affected by the cyclone.7 An estimated 783,220 hectares of paddy fields were submerged by the cyclone, or 63% of

paddy land in a total of 19 townships. An estimated 75%-85% of seed stocks were destroyed by flooding or subsequent rain. The loss of draught animals and power tillers means that 52,121 farmers are not able to plant.

This will translate into a loss of production of monsoon rice between June and August 2008 on some 183,425 ha of paddy land, or 32% of the most severely cyclone-affected area in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. Estimating on the basis of typical yields, this could mean a loss of 550,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of paddy rice, which equates to 2% of Myanmar’s total annual paddy production for 2006/2007.

Fish is considered the second most essential part of the diet in Myanmar after rice, and fishing employs a substantial portion (a large part of whom are landless people) of the population. Aquaculture in Myanmar produces 21% of the total fishery production and contributes significantly to food security. With regards to mariculture and aquaculture, the FAO and VTA found the following: 27,000 subsistence fishermen and workers employed in the fishery industry are missing or

dead. 2,000 off/in-shore boats/vessels have been lost out of 34,686 before the cyclone, and on

average more than 1,000 small boats of other categories have been destroyed in each township.

The VTA reports that 44.3% of small boats and 70% of fishing gear were lost and income from fishing has dropped by 49% as a result of the cyclone. The damage to aquaculture includes loss of stock when ponds were flooded, and destruction to ponds, cages and infrastructure, with a total of 55 cold storages damaged.

The total production loss of fish as a result of the cyclone (both from capture fisheries and aquaculture) is believed to be 150,000 MTs.

In terms of the groups rendered particularly vulnerable by the effects of the cyclone, FAO and the PoNJA identified the following:8

The FAO assessment estimated that 49,180 affected small scale farmers and 99,000 landless rural households need immediate assistance.

Complementing the FAO assessment, the VTA reported that 27.8% of farmers’ land was damaged, only 27% of farmers have enough seeds, less than 20% have fertilizer, and less than 20% of villages have enough draught animals or equipment to prepare their land.

The VTA also reported that only 8.5% of farmers have enough cash to cover the cost of inputs for the monsoon season crop; normally, farmers need from 82,000-875,000 Kyat ($75-795) for a season, depending on land size, and only 58.1% have enough labour.

According to the VTA, agricultural income has dropped by 36% following the cyclone.

Regarding forestry, about 14,000 ha out of 275,000 ha of mangroves were clearly lost due to the cyclone. An urgent concern is the impact the loss of forestry production will have on rural people heavily or partially dependent on it for their livelihood. A large number of artisanal fisherman, landless poor, and marginal farmers especially women are dependent on mangrove forests for their direct and indirect incomes (charcoal production, casual labour in forestry operations, minor forest produce

6 The PONJA and the FAO assessment worked in full coordination, with the former using already available data from the earlier FAO assessment. FAO and PONJA used to a large extent the same sources of information, mainly the Government and township authorities’ information, resulting in consistency of data in both assessments.7 Ayeyarwady Division: Bogale, Dedaye, Labutta, Pyapone, Ngapudaw, Mawlamyinegyum and Kyaikiat; Yangon Division: Kyauktan, Kungyangong, Twantay and Kawhmu.8 See as well the maps on agriculture pre- and post-Nargis in the annexes.

16

MYANMAR

collection and processing, etc.). Villagers also obtain construction material and food (fish especially) from the mangrove forests.

The objective of emergency and early recovery activities in agriculture remains the immediate restoration of livelihoods of a total number of around 50,000 marginal farm families with access to 0.4 to 4 ha land, and 99,000 landless households. Landless people, especially women, do not need large areas of land to farm; they only need access to small backyards for vegetable and fruit tree cultivation, and raising small animals in addition to fishing facilities. Before the cyclone, between 33%-51% of the rural population in the cyclone-affected area were landless, generating incomes from farm labour, sales of produce from backyard gardens, small livestock and off-farm activities such as salt-making, fishing, etc. The response would address food security, rehabilitation of livelihoods, and improved resilience of the worst-affected communities to future disasters. Gaps remain in all four sub-sectors identified by the needs assessment of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry, despite the important efforts of both Government and NGOs.

The priority remains to be able to assist farmers to cultivate rice during the current monsoon season. This requires the availability of quality rice seeds in sufficient quantity in the hands of the rice farmers in July at the latest. Preparation of the land is made more difficult by the limited availability of draught animals, and the time they will require to recuperate physically, and therefore feed must be made available for the animals as well. In the absence of draught animals for ploughing, fuel must be made available for power tillers to serve as an alternative. Fuel exists in the country in enough quantities, and FAO is sourcing it locally as well as coordinating with WFP on local transporters to meet the challenge of distribution for the monsoon season, and is essential for not only the tillers but the water pumps which would be used all year round.

The Government has indicated a total requirement of 37,079 MTs of paddy seed for the monsoon season to all townships hit by the cyclone, of which around 16,000 MTs have been already met by Government and other organisations organizations. If the shortfall is not met, farmers will not be able to plant the paddy rice seeds on time. If this season is missed, rice seeds will be needed for the following summer season together with some flexibility in funding. Alternative crops such as dry rice, vegetables, pulses, root crops, groundnuts, sesame, and other crops coupled with water pumps should be made available to farmers as other options.

On a more positive note, it was originally thought that salt water intrusion would be a seriously limiting factor in the restoration of paddy rice production. However, the soils were already saturated before the cyclone from earlier rains, the floods drained away within a few days, and any remaining salinity has been washed out by subsequent heavy rains. The only problems that remain are those low lying areas adjacent to swampy saline soils which face difficulties with drainage and any reclamation will require long-term assistance.

Another priority is to support the livelihoods of landless people, especially women, by income-generating activities such as small ruminant, pig and poultry raising. Non-agricultural based activities for landless people should be urgently and simultaneously supported by other partners in the early recovery network. The immediate restoration of fishing capacity is urgent for those households whose livelihoods were relying mainly on fishing and fish processing, especially women. Fishing activities could immediately resume after the monsoon, with support to replacing requisite tools and materials. The Government had also made substantial efforts in boat building and fishing gear distribution, but the needs remain high. Support to communities dependent on the mangrove forest for their livelihoods by creating income-generating activities through nursery raising and mangrove regeneration is also needed. The reforestation of the mangrove forest areas would afford increased protection to protect affected communities from wave surges in the future.

The agriculture cluster covers the four sub-sectors of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry. FAO has been leading the Agriculture Cluster in Myanmar and continued coordination with all international and national partners for immediate restoration of livelihoods and early recovery in the four sectors is crucial to maximise synergies and avoid overlaps. The timeframe of proposed projects is twelve months, to meet emergency and early recovery needs in the 11 most severely cyclone-affected townships. The main goals of the cluster are re-establishment of food security and food self-reliance, strengthening of household livelihood economic security, and increased standard of living.

17

MYANMAR

The target population groups of the cluster are; Around 50,000 farming households physically and mentally able to cultivate; 99,000 landless families with access to home gardens and fishing; 10,000 households relying mainly on inshore and inland fisheries and household aquaculture or

processing; Communities living near the seashore which depend on mangroves for food security.

Objectives Resumption of rice cultivation, vegetable cropping and other alternative crops such as root

crops, pulses, peanuts and other oil crops; Resumption of small ruminant, pig and poultry rearing as income generation; Resumption of fishing; Re-establishment of home plantations, orchards and mangroves; Improved coordination.

Indicators Number of vulnerable households, gender-specific, provided with appropriate agricultural;,

fisheries, livestock and forestry inputs to resume livelihoods; Number of hectares planted with agricultural agriculture inputs; Number of animal vaccinated or treated; Improved nutritional food basis of household in quantity and diversification of diet; Number of coordination meetings with sector partners and relevant stakeholders at the township

and central levels carried out on regular basis.

Participating organisations FAO, GAA, CESVI, International Development Enterprises (IDE), Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), ER cluster, Mercy Corps, Action Aid, SC, Metta, World Vision, World Concern, TGH, Terre des Hommes Italia, ACF, Partners/Solidarities, Samaritan’s Purse, AMURT, CARE, GRET, UNDP, WFP, Muslim Aid, Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), PACT, People In Need (PIN), Red Cross Movement, Swiss Aid, line ministries (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Forestry), and donors.

Monitoring FAO will work closely with relevant partners to collect vital food security information as baseline data, to ensure efficient monitoring of planned sector objectives and indicators. An existing participatory methodology will be adapted for monitoring the cluster programme.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedIf this response is not implemented, the cyclone-affected farmers and fisherfolk will be at serious risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. The consequences of inaction would lead to increased vulnerability, deterioration in socio-economic indicators, and selling off productive and other assets which will accelerate the downward spiral into permanent destitution.

EARLY RECOVERY: ECONOMIC RECOVERY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Lead Agency – UNDPNeeds Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)The PoNJA clearly showed that Cyclone Nargis not only caused a devastating loss of life in the Ayeyarwady Delta and southern townships of Yangon Division, but also had a significant impact on peoples’ lives and livelihoods as well as on the capacity of communities to recover from the disaster. The cyclone severely compounded the pre-existing vulnerability of large segments of the local population. Despite the progress made to date in early recovery, much more is needed to support households and communities that are struggling to restore their lives and livelihoods under their own initiative, with only extremely limited and finite resources at their disposal.

The capacity of communities to rebound from the effects of the disaster remains extremely weak across most of the affected area. At the current juncture, external assistance continues to be critical for strengthening the capacity of communities to rebound from the disaster, move beyond dependence on direct relief assistance and establish solid foundations for longer-term recovery. One third of the

18

MYANMAR

affected people report that fisheries and agriculture are their main activities yet they cannot at this time rely on this source of income. In tandem with the provision of humanitarian relief, it is imperative to sustain the lives that are being saved. Early recovery efforts aim to help people re-establish their lives and livelihoods and build towards a better future.

Early recovery programmes link with, but are distinct from, longer-term recovery and reconstruction efforts, in light of their specific focus on rapid foundational impact at the household and community level. The proposed activities aim primarily at enabling and reinforcing the capacities of households and communities to recover. In order to generate self-sustaining, locally owned and resilient long-term processes, early recovery has to be implemented with and by communities, with local actors in the driving seat. With this in mind, early recovery activities in Myanmar are being designed and implemented in a transparent manner, through effective information sharing, inclusive local level consultations, so as to ensure the maximum accountability to beneficiaries and donors. In addition, all early recovery efforts will be solely based upon identified needs and priorities.

Projects and programmes will seek to address the vulnerabilities of cyclone-affected communities, ensuring that risks are not rebuilt into the recovery effort and the capacities of communities are strengthened to reduce further risk. Early recovery activities will continue to be closely coordinated within and between agencies and clusters, with a view to maximising their effectiveness, avoiding gaps and minimising overlaps. Early recovery initiatives also work to foster cooperation among local communities and civil society groups, in order to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of programmes and promote local participation in the recovery effort.

ObjectivesEarly Recovery is a multi-dimensional process, rather than a traditional sector. Consequently, each of the other clusters will systematically plan for and implement early recovery interventions within the context of their own specific areas of work (the Early Recovery Network will play a key coordinating role in this regard). Following a community-centered approach, this Early Recovery Response Plan focuses on those areas that, while not covered by other clusters, constitute priorities for the collective success of the early recovery effort. These are:

1. Non-agricultural livelihoodsThe Early Recovery Cluster works in close coordination with the Agriculture Cluster to effectively target those households – engaged in non-agricultural and other off-farm activities, as well as the landless poor – that require immediate access to income-generating opportunities, with a view to enhancing the capacity of the affected communities to improve their economic status and stimulate local economies. Rapid livelihoods support will focus on activities such as the provision of quick access to public work schemes; the provision of capital funds to self-reliance and livelihood groups; and the delivery of community-based training programmes to develop basic skills. Special attention will be paid to single-headed households, those living with HIV, and the disabled, including through the promotion of employment opportunities.

2. Social RecoveryEarly recovery will work to revitalise and empower local communities – which, in many cases, led the recovery effort in the initial response phase. A key priority in this direction is building the capacity of (and supporting) civil society organisations – community-based organisations, youth groups, women’s groups and other self-help organisations – including through community mobilisation activities and the strengthening of women’s networks. Targeted support (including psychosocial rehabilitation) will be provided to particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, single-headed households, and those not able to return to their places of origin.

3. Community InfrastructureCommunity infrastructure will be repaired in order to increase access for community mobility, facilitate the movement of goods and people to markets, and to allow for improved access for humanitarian and recovery partners to deliver assistance. At the same time, public work to repair critical village-level infrastructure, with the use of employment-intensive techniques and local resources, will provide immediate labour for urgent repairs and facilitate rapid income generation. Involving communities in the recovery efforts helps them to regain a sense of normalcy and contributes to ensure that the restored infrastructure meets their actual needs. Planned activities include clearance of debris and the repair of minor village infrastructure (jetties, footpaths, schools, health facilities, etc.) and short link roads.4. Environment

19

MYANMAR

Environmental resources directly underpin the livelihoods of poor people in Myanmar. Pre-existing ecological damage to the Delta area has been exacerbated by the cyclone, while new challenges have appeared as a result of the disaster. Immediate support will be provided to local authorities, communities and agencies to minimise the potential negative environmental impact of their early recovery actions.

5. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)DRR will be mainstreamed throughout the work of all clusters. In addition, specific DRR measures are also needed to immediately begin strengthening the capacity of communities to withstand the after-effects of future disasters including through the establishment of village disaster preparedness committees, training in safe constructions techniques, and safer reconstruction of shelters and public spaces.

Indicators Percentage of most vulnerable households reporting the restoration of non-agricultural livelihoods

to pre-cyclone levels; Number of community networks receiving capacity building support in the form of training and

access to information; Percentage of damaged community facilities in target villages – such as schools, health facilities,

footpaths, short link roads– that is restored or rebuilt; Number of early recovery projects screened to ensure their environmental impact is minimised; Number of village disaster preparedness committees established and maintained.

Participating organisationsUNDP, SC, IOM, CESVI, ILO, Merlin, UNEP, and UN-HABITAT.

Monitoring The Early Recovery Cluster and Network will put in place a system to monitor and evaluate (M&E) performance against agreed early recovery objectives. The M&E system will be community-based, involving inclusive local-level consultations, in order to allow communities to provide a direct feed-back on the support that is being provided and adjust priorities according to their actual needs.

Implications if this response plan is not implemented Without the timely implementation of a comprehensive package of early recovery support, the affected communities are likely to remain without access to vital social services for a longer period of time. In addition, the failed restoration of sustainable livelihoods will also delay (and possibly hinder) the effectiveness of the longer-term recovery process. As a result, the dependence of the affected population on the ongoing relief efforts will, in all likelihood, be significantly protracted.

EDUCATION

Lead Agencies: UNICEF and Save the Children (Co-leads)Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)The Ministry of Education confirmed as of end June that 3,761 schools had been damaged in Ayeyarwady and Yangon, mostly primary schools, and that 1,370 of the worst affected had yet to be reopened. In 17 UNICEF-supported townships alone, 1,435 schools had completely collapsed. A number of teachers perished in the cyclone. Extensive damage to school buildings and furniture means that almost all teaching and learning materials and children’s basic possessions were also lost. 50% of the latrines are usable in schools.

Urgent resumption of education is a critical need to bring a sense of normalcy to the lives of children and to prevent children from missing out on learning opportunities due to the disaster. Moreover, schools provide a setting for children to link with their peers; as such they are an important platform for psycho-social support. School repairs and rebuilding, training of volunteer teachers and provision of basic school and learning materials are urgently needed to enable children to continue their schooling and learning without interruption.

Access to formal and non-formal education, including early childhood development, needs to be re-established for all affected children, through repair, rehabilitation and rebuilding of government and non-government schools. This would include water and sanitation facilities, provision of transitional schooling (e.g. tent classrooms), provision of basic education materials and facilitating back-to-school

20

MYANMAR

and other learning opportunities for children. From the beginning of the response, quality education activities such as child friendly teaching/learning practices have been promoted, including a focus on training for provision of psychosocial support for teachers and children; and training in emergency preparedness and response. At the same time, special consideration should be given to the promotion of recreational and sports activities to support restoring normalcy ion children’s lives and rebuilding their resilience, self-esteem and self-expression.

Based on recent assessments, cluster partners have prioritised the following needs: To rehabilitate 1,640 damaged and destroyed schools; To provide 1,315 temporary safe learning spaces for basic education schools; To provide 520 temporary safe learning spaces for early childhood development activities.

Nonetheless, if all partners are able to implement their planned commitments, there will still be a shortfall of at least 2,121 schools for repair and rehabilitation. 362,400 girls and boys should benefit from provision of school and learning materials within the twelve month post-cyclone period. In addition, the capacity of 9,300 teachers should be enhanced through training (psychosocial, child-centred methodologies, DRR).

ObjectivesRapid action for provision and restoration of good quality early learning and education in formal and non-formal settings in cyclone-affected townships to: Repair, rehabilitate and start rebuilding damaged and destroyed schools; Provide temporary safe learning spaces for basic education schools; Provide temporary safe learning spaces for early childhood development activities; Provide school and learning materials to affected girls and boys; Strengthen teaching capacity through training.

Indicators Number of cyclone-damaged primary, middle, high schools, affiliated, monastic schools and

preschools repaired or rebuilt, according to the maxim of “build back better, stronger and child-friendly” within the twelve month post-cyclone period;

Number of temporary safe learning spaces established for schools; Number of temporary safe learning spaces established for early childhood development (ECD)

activities; Number of girls and boys benefiting from basic learning and play materials; Number of teachers (including preschool teachers) trained in psychosocial, child-centred

methodologies and disaster risk reduction.

Participating organisationsThis response plan will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Department of Social Welfare and the following cluster partners: CESVI-ActEd; GAA; Ministry of Education; Norwegian Refugee Council; Pestalozzi; Save the Children (SC); UNESCO; UNICEF.

MonitoringThe cluster will monitor achievements towards objectives and indicators through the network of cluster partners working in the affected areas and in Yangon. Sub-regional operational bases have also been established to replicate the cluster dialogue, populated by UN, NGO and government staff. UNICEF and SC have monitoring staff positioned in the affected areas, which are supported by regular visits from the Yangon-based country offices.

Particular emphasis will be on monitoring quality during implementation of training activities and repair/rebuilding of schools to ensure that they are built back safer and more child-friendly. Concepts of building more child-friendly schools are to be applied, looking at the following dimensions: inclusiveness and equality, effective teaching and learning, safe, healthy and protective environments, gender sensitiveness, and involvement of children, parents, and communities.

Attention will be paid to monitoring the response through progressive stages. At the three month benchmark, monitoring will focus on outputs, shifting to outcomes by six months, and after 12 months, an assessment of impact on the lives of beneficiaries. The cluster will meet regularly to review progress in implementation and identify any emerging issues requiring attention, or amendments in strategy. The Education Cluster continues close coordination

21

MYANMAR

with other clusters, especially Protection of Children and Women, Water and Sanitation, and Health and Nutrition, to ensure child friendly environments to be (re-)established in the affected communities.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedAccess to school is a crucial element in ensuring the protection of children in emergencies. The plan aims to provide access to a minimum level of basic education for all children of school-going age in affected communities, as well as alternative learning opportunities for young children and out-of-school children in cyclone-affected communities. If the plan is not implemented: Children have reduced access to basic quality education, and early childhood development; Communities and families remain largely unsupported for children’s access to learning

opportunities; Restoration of normalcy delayed for affected children; Risks for the protection of children; Psychosocial needs of children, including opportunities for fostering play and recreation, are

inadequately met; No increase in teacher capacity in psycho-social/child-centred methodologies; Unmet urgent needs for shelter for learning spaces during the heavy monsoon season; Unimproved learning environments; Early recovery delayed, including safe rehabilitation of child-friendly schools.

FOOD

Lead Agency: WFPNeeds Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)As hundreds of villages were swept away and farmlands were inundated with sea water, household assets (including food stocks, seeds and livestock) were destroyed. Overnight, close to one million people were left without any means to access adequate food.

An urgent need exists to meet the basic food requirements of the most vulnerable families on a regular and systematic basis. Priority actions are aimed at addressing the requirements of households who have lost all livelihood opportunities and continue to be displaced since their places of origin are bereft of assets. As the preliminary VTA findings show that 55% of households have only one day of food stocks, particular attention will be given to these vulnerable households and family members whose nutritional status is most at risk.

Various assessments, including the PoNJA, estimate that 924,000 beneficiaries in the Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions are in urgent need of assistance to improve their food security. This caseload can be broken down as follows: 200,000 Yangon-based beneficiaries receive short-term relief through a one-two month basic food package; 724,000 people will receive relief food assistance until the next harvest due in November.

Planning assumptions beyond the November 2008 harvest include the following caseloads: Continued relief assistance to 300,000 persons until April 2009; a planned series of surveys will

help to refine this figure (see below in Monitoring); Some 25,000 food for work participants (100,000 beneficiaries) involved in recovery activities

starting after the harvest in November; Supplementary feeding for 61,000 children under five and 28,000 pregnant & lactating mothers of

the general food distribution caseload.

22

MYANMAR

23

MYANMAR

The main priorities for food assistance are to: Address the basic food needs of the most food-insecure populations, including displaced and

severely affected people; Meet the food needs of vulnerable groups, especially pregnant and lactating women and children

under five; Use food in combination with non-food resources to speed up recovery of livelihoods; and Increase the capacity of identified local manufacturers to produce fortified blended food.

Food assistance actions will cover a period of 12 months (May 2008 – April 2009) and will include relief, recovery and supplementary feeding to help maintain adequate food consumption, stabilise the nutritional status of the most vulnerable groups and restore livelihoods.

The food sector response strategy has as its starting point the provision of a basic food basket to the most vulnerable families, for an initial period of six months, to ensure that families are able to engage in recovery activities without worrying about basic food inputs. As more income-generating opportunities evolve, early recovery initiatives such as food-for-work (FFW) schemes and cash interventions will be implemented. Complementary agriculture and livelihood interventions will support longer term recovery.

Targeting all pregnant and lactating women and children under 5 in households receiving relief rations, supplementary feeding will cover relief and early recovery contexts for a period of nine months. Discussions with the Nutrition Cluster have precluded duplication with nutrition rehabilitation programmes. WFP will work with the private sector to ensure that culturally-acceptable fortified blended food is available, and establish protocols for local production.

The food sector will also work to ensure complete geographical coverage of the affected areas, and avoid duplication among cooperating partners. Current programme complexities include the logistical challenges faced during the monsoon period; controls on local purchase of food commodities; and limitations on humanitarian access. These inherent challenges demand that the response strategy remain flexible, with contingencies in place to ensure timely and safe delivery of food commodities to targeted populations.

The minimum planned condition for an exit strategy is household food security at a similar state to what existed before cyclone Nargis. Assistance in various forms will continue until the harvest of April-May 2009, given the likelihood that a majority of the most affected households will not benefit from the harvest of October-November 2008. However, the future of the food cluster is very much linked to developments in agriculture and early recovery; if the upcoming harvest fails, and if livelihoods cannot be restored to pre-Cyclone levels, food assistance will have to continue way beyond the harvest in November until the summer crop in April-May 2009.

WFP will maximise the effectiveness of its programmes by addressing cross-cutting priority issues, including women’s protection. At the village level, WFP and its cooperating partners will ensure that women are equally represented in the food management committees.

Objectives Ensure adequate food consumption among the targeted populations so that families benefit from

recovery activities; Prevent a nutritional decline amongst targeted vulnerable groups; Restore livelihoods of targeted beneficiaries to pre-cyclone levels.

Indicators Number of food-insecure people receiving food assistance; Number of participants (pregnant/lactating women and children under five) receiving

supplementary nutritional food through targeted supplementary feeding programme; Percentage of people reporting adequate food consumption; Percentage of households reporting recovery of livelihoods to pre-crisis levels; Increased tonnage of fortified blended food from the local food production companies.

Participating organisationsCurrent and future cooperating partners include: ACF, ADRA, Artsen zonder Grenzen (AZG), CARE, CESVI, German Agro Action (GAA), Groupe d'échange et de recherche technologiques (GRET), Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), PACT, SC, UNDP, and World Vision. In addition, WFP

24

MYANMAR

partners with a host of local agencies such as the Myanmar Red Cross Society and community-based organisations, including faith-based and local NGOs, under the umbrella of WFP’s direct implementation.

MonitoringWFP will continue to lead and participate in inter-agency food security assessments in cyclone-affected areas. All agencies will monitor their project activities through standard monitoring checklists. Each agency will also conduct mid-term reviews to assess the progress of implementation towards expected results.

In conjunction with UNICEF and other cooperating partners, a food and nutrition survey will be carried out in July/August 2008, providing a more comprehensive picture of the food security of affected populations. WFP will also continue to monitor local market commodity prices on a monthly basis, to provide early warning for possible food shortages.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedFood insecurity will increase in cyclone-affected areas, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable households in the delta. This will negatively impact coping mechanisms and lead to a deterioration in the nutritional status of the currently “at risk” vulnerable population.

If adequate food supplies are not provided for the affected families, recovery efforts will be slow. Vulnerable families facing food insecurity will not be able to engage in meaningful recovery activities and there will be erosion of coping mechanisms, further protracting dependence on continued humanitarian assistance.

HEALTH

Lead agencies: WHO and Merlin (co-leads)Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)Humanitarian needs are overwhelming and urgent, and can be expected to continue at least into the medium term. Population displacement, overcrowding in temporary shelters and lack of safe drinking water are factors that greatly increase the risk of communicable disease and outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS. Moreover, one in five surveyed people have reported psychosocial problems after the cyclone, although only 11% had received support. Health care is accessible for only 49% of the population. This is exacerbated by the total destruction of 17 rural health centres (RHC) and 120 sub-rural health centres (SRHC). Another 186 RHC and 588 SRHC were partially destroyed.

Health personnel were among the many lives lost; the surviving workforce has however lost everything and needs support to rebuild their lives before being able to function effectively. Immediate health concerns of the population can be grouped into: emergency medical care, sexual and reproductive health, infectious disease prevention and control, mental health and child care. Appropriate and urgent response in these areas needs to be provided, while simultaneously addressing the rehabilitation of health facilities, workforce and sustainable basic services.

The overall aim of this health response plan is to reduce morbidity, disability and preventable mortality among the 2.4 million people most severely affected by the cyclone, and to improve sustainable access to preventive and curative health care.

Essential health services will be provided to the affected population through health facilities, and temporary health service delivery points in shelters and relocation sites. Mobile clinics and outreach services will be used and mechanisms are put in place to improve access to referral centres. For the next 12 months, the focus will be on: Immunisation; Supply of emergency drugs and supplies; Outbreak preparedness and response; TB and HIV care and treatment; Sexual and reproductive health; Mental health and psychosocial support; Hospital referrals for secondary and tertiary medical care and; Waste management.

25

MYANMAR

The Health Cluster will work to support the immediate repair and provision of water and power supply to critical facilities including hospitals and central medical store depots. They will also operate temporary health service delivery points in alignment with the MoH Plan of Action Post-Nargis. Damaged health and medical equipment will be replaced, including cold chain and waste-disposal infrastructures.

The national and local primary health care networks and systems will be reactivated by mobilising and supporting community health workers and voluntary workers. Particular attention will be paid to the orientation of new doctors and other health staff to be deployed to the affected areas. These staff will be briefed on various aspects of the emergency health activities, including psychosocial response. HIV prevention will be undertaken, especially for mobile populations, sex workers and humanitarian workers, linked to impacts of the cyclone.

Aligning the above efforts with national plans and policies will be key to successful health response and recovery. “Building back better” will be the guiding principle in activities planned to strengthen capacities of national health partners and integrating them in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts.

The Health Cluster will conduct in-depth assessments of health recovery needs and gaps, in collaboration with the MoH, as a prerequisite for sound planning for both response and recovery. Disease surveillance will be strengthened by establishing early warning systems to detect and control potential disease outbreaks. In close consultation with the MoH, mechanisms will be established to verify reports and consolidate information collected by the MoH and data collected by health partners.

The Yangon Health Cluster will be complemented by the establishment of five coordination hubs in the affected areas, to support the coordination and management of health activities in alignment with the MoH Plan of Action Post-Nargis and liaise with local health authorities to facilitate joint planning and identification of gaps, avoid overlap and share information such as various guidelines. Additionally, a clearing mechanism for drugs/medical supplies that are not in line with the essential drug list will be established in collaboration with the MoH.

Objectives To prevent excess mortality, morbidity and disability; To ensure response to health needs, including sexual and reproductive health, and threats

including outbreaks, strengthen disease control and to address gaps that are critical to the delivery of health care;

To restore the functionality of the health systems and build the capacity for effective service delivery;

To engage national and international partners in the effective collaboration and coordination of the health sector response and recovery.

Indicators Rate of incidence of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection (ARI), malaria, suspected dengue; Number of consultations by township provided by health cluster; Number of affected health facilities rehabilitated (physical infrastructure, equipment and staff); Percentage of teams reporting disease surveillance weekly; Comprehensive Who-does-What-Where database maintained.

Participating organisationsThe health cluster is supported by its member agencies and partners: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, Merlin, CESVI, SC, Population Services International (PSI), Marie Stopes International (MSI), Association Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (AXFB), UNDP, Relief International, IMC, ADRA, International Alliane for HIV/AIDS together with Aide Medicale Internationale (AMI), Myanmar Business Coalition on AIDS (MBCA), and Pyi Gyi Khin (PGK).

Monitoring Cluster approach at central and field level; Early Warning and Response System (EWARS); Consolidated reporting from partners; Health Information System; Health recovery impact assessment and monitoring system.Implications if this response plan is not implemented

26

MYANMAR

Increased risk of disease outbreaks; Increased morbidity and mortality rates; Health system not capable of responding to needs.

NUTRITION

Lead Agency - UNICEF Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)Levels of acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition rates prior to Cyclone Nargis were relatively high at around 9% and 32% respectively. Post-cyclone rapid nutrition assessments indicate that up to 60,000 young children in affected areas may be acutely malnourished or ‘at risk’, and are in urgent need of therapeutic or supplementary food.9 This is particularly worrying as other assessments indicate high levels of food insecurity in the most affected townships, a 20% decrease in the food intake of meat, fish and eggs, and disrupted/poor infant feeding practices. The dire food situation, combined with disrupted child care and feeding practices will exacerbate the already high rates of acute and chronic malnutrition.

The assessed needs and gaps can be summarised as follows: An estimated 60,000 young children in affected areas urgently need therapeutic food and/or

targeted supplementary feeding. Improving the food basket or provision of blended fortified foods for young children would prevent those ‘at risk’ from sliding into acute malnutrition.

Pre-Cyclone rates of exclusive breastfeeding have been low. During first few weeks, unsolicited Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) donations reached all levels in the affected areas –endangering the lives of infants and young children, because BMS was distributed without proper assessment of individual case needs. There is a need for strengthening control and monitoring, in accordance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

Anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in children and women are very common in Myanmar predisposing them to illness. These micronutrient deficiencies are exacerbated in the post-cyclone period, due to restricted dietary sources; the need for multiple micronutrient supplementation is highlighted.

The nutrition cluster needs to ensure that assistance and response builds upon local capacities -- starting with the existing State and Divisional nutrition teams, local NGOs such as the Myanmar Health Assistants Association, and the vast network of midwives and sub-national nutrition centres-- for micronutrient supplementation and identification/management of acute malnutrition. Community based feeding centres set up by partners would be backed up by hospital nutrition units for severely malnourished children with complications. The nutrition service delivery would be through fixed facilities, outreach complemented with Vitamin A and deworming campaigns.

ObjectivesThe four priorities identified by the Nutrition cluster are to: Reach acutely malnourished infants, children, pregnant and lactating women with supplementary

and/or therapeutic feeding programmes; Prevent micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation; Support and promote appropriate infant feeding practices in the affected areas; Identify areas of particular vulnerability using rapid nutrition assessment, surveys, screenings and

surveillance.

Indicators Percentage of children aged 6 to 59 months receiving vitamin A supplements in last six months; Estimated percentage of children under five years of age having acute malnutrition; Estimated percentage of children under five years of age within the ‘at risk’ category; Number of children under five years of age and pregnant/lactating women receiving therapeutic/

supplementary feeding; Number of IEC materials distributed/ eligible women educated on infant feeding.

Participating organisations

9 According to post-Cyclone assessments, 17.4% in Ayeyarwady delta, 14.7% in Yangon and 34% of under-fives in Pyapon are considered to be in the ‘at risk’ category.

27

MYANMAR

The Nutrition cluster, led by UNICEF, has 18 organisational members, including the MoH Head of Nutrition. It has three technical working sub-groups on infant feeding, therapeutic feeding and nutrition surveillance respectively led by different agencies. The cluster meets once a week at national level with participation of key humanitarian partners. The organisations participating in the nutrition response include SC, ACF, Merlin, PSI, MSF-(Ch), AZG, Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA), Myanmar Health assistant Association (MHAA), Médecins du Monde (MDM), WHO, WFP and UNICEF.

MonitoringProject reports from partners and reports from National Nutrition Centre/MOH would be consolidated at township and national level from the affected areas. A full-time information manager for the cluster will compile data at national and sub-national level.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedThe implications of not implementing this project include a rapid deterioration of acute malnutrition rates leading to high child mortality and micronutrient deficiencies. This would translate into higher illnesses, lowered IQ of children and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN

Lead Agencies - UNICEF and Save the Children (CO-LEADS)Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)The scope and devastation of Cyclone Nargis has created an environment in which children and women are particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect, as traditional social structures and support systems to protect them are disrupted or in disrepair. Children and women each have specific needs and experiences, which require particular programming responses. Children separated from their families, child-headed households, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable children are in need of focused support. Women headed households and women exposed to violence and abuse require access to comprehensive protection and support services.

The national capacity for prevention, reporting, referral and response to abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect is limited, and hence the development of holistic mechanisms for the protection of both children and women is urgently needed. Funding already received from the Flash Appeal focused on immediate support to vulnerable children and women, and the setting up of community based mechanisms, yet to date only 12% of the surveyed population have had access to special programs. As time passes, the full extent of needs is increasingly being recognised, and budgets have increased to reflect the needs of vulnerable children and women.

This response plan reflects the respective capacities of cluster members, and coordination of target areas to avoid duplication and gaps in programme delivery. The overall strategy complements the National Plan of Action for Child Protection in Emergencies, and includes the strengthening of mechanisms for prevention, referral, reporting, monitoring and response to cases of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. The basic elements of a protection system that promotes child, women and family welfare need to be enhanced. Community-based structures, such as child and women’s protection committees or protection focal points, need to be developed, in order to prevent and respond to the above risks.

In terms of advocacy, efforts will be made to ensure that children and women are able to meaningfully participate in planning, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of programmes and projects that are meant to enhance their protection. Initiatives specifically targeting and empowering women as an autonomous group, with specific needs, and not simply reinforcing their roles as wives and mothers will be supported, and non-discrimination, meaningful participation, equal representation of women and children should be promoted.

Structures will be strengthened or built to ensure that common standards and coordinated platforms are in place -- contributing to joint advocacy at multiple levels, and with other clusters, to address abuse, exploitation and violence, as well as to promote protective environments for children and women. Inclusion of protection and gender equality will be promoted for consideration across all sectors and clusters, so that communities are supported to strengthen appropriate community-based and community-driven protection strategies for children and women.

28

MYANMAR

CFS will be provided to promote children’s protection and psychosocial recovery. Likewise, women’s places will be promoted for women’s protection and psycho-social recovery. A common case management approach is being developed to incorporate family tracing for separated children, ongoing monitoring (and where necessary referral to other sectors for their intervention or to community based protection mechanisms) for children in interim care, orphans, child victims of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect or other vulnerable children.

Objectives Empower children and women, through their active participation with committees/networks/

liaison officers, to create effective functioning protection systems and services; Provide/ensure access to psychosocial and other relevant support to children and women

affected by violence, exploitation, abuse or suffering from emotional distress; Support capacity building initiatives and implement strategies of several multilevel protection

service providers and coordination processes; Mainstream and integrate women’s protection interventions and approaches into programs of all

actors involved in the Nargis response; Monitor, evaluate, and as necessary carry out assessments on progress being made on projects

addressing protection needs of children and women.

Indicators Number of functioning protection systems and services for children and women in place; Number of affected children and women who access protection services and systems; Number of people with strengthened skills and knowledge on the protection of children and

women; Number of mainstreaming initiatives focused on children and women’s protection carried out; Number of detailed cluster assessments undertaken per village tract.

MonitoringThe cluster will monitor, evaluate and as necessary carry out assessments on the progress being made against objectives.

Participating organisationsMyanmar Ministry of Social Welfare and Relief and Resettlement, MoH, Myanmar Medical Association, Myanmar Maternal Child and Welfare Association, Myanmar Red Cross Society, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, IOM, United Nations Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP), SC, World Vision, Enfants du Monde – Droits de l’Homme (EMDH), Yinthway Foundation, Burnet Institute, Population Services International, Aide Medical International, MSI, Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation, Thingaha, AXFB, NGO Gender Group, Rattana Metta, Metta Development Foundation, Child Focused Network, Yangon Kayin Baptist Women’s Association (YKBWA), National Young Women’s Christian Association (NYWCA), Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC), Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Association (MNMA), Catholic Bishop Conference of Myanmar (CBCM), additional local NGOs and community support groups.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedWomen and children will not be adequately protected from abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect, and not be fully able to enjoy their basic rights as individuals, and are subsequently denied the opportunities to be active and equal members of their communities. When societies have been disrupted, and traditional protection mechanisms are dislocated, enhanced support for the protection for children and women is essential. Without it, the safety and security of women and children is compromised, increasing their vulnerability and exposure to abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect.

SHELTER

Lead Agencies Emergency Shelter: IFRCShelter Recovery: UN-HABITAT

Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)Shelter is critical in providing basic security and personal safety from elements and resistance to diseases. Shelter is also vital for sustaining the dignity and structure of families and communities.

29

MYANMAR

The Cyclone affected about 800,000 houses in its path, of which almost 500,000 are estimated to be severely affected. It is estimated that Nargis destroyed or damaged approximately 450,000 housing units, and around 350,000 units lost all or part of their roof. The VTA data show that 57% and 25% of sampled households had their houses totally destroyed or partially damaged by the cyclone, respectively. 16% of households indicated little damage and only 2% no damage to their houses.

VTA data also show that overall, over three-quarters of households have rebuilt their homes already10. However, given the communities’ meagre resources, lack of access to shelter materials and tools, and lack of skilled artisans for shelter construction, there has been a significant shift to smaller bamboo houses often salvaged and inadequate materials, exposing to the immediate risks during the monsoon seasons. VTA data indicate an increase in bamboo houses from 46% to 65% of total housing stock. Bamboo is generally less stable than wood with a short life if exposed to humidity.

In the past two months, many households have coped by building temporary structures of low quality. Wooden houses have dropped by 20%, whereas bamboo shelters, with a maximum lifespan of about two years, have increased by 20%.

Agencies in the Emergency Shelter Cluster have been working together to ensure that a basic package of tarpaulins, tool kits and household relief kits have been provided to the most vulnerable groups. Despite achievements to date, however, there is still a considerable group in need of emergency assistance. In accordance with the Emergency Shelter Strategic Framework, an additional 450,000 plastic sheets/tarpaulins, 60,000 community tool kits, and 230,000 household relief kits are planned for distribution.

To complement the government’s efforts, Emergency shelter assistance will be followed by programmes to meet the residual emergency shelter needs, and assist families in (further) repairing their homes or rebuilding to ensure the general well-being and welfare of the Nargis-affected population, particularly during the monsoon season.

Agencies in the Emergency Shelter Cluster have been working together to ensure that a basic package of tarpaulins, tool kits and household relief kits have been provided to the most vulnerable groups. Despite achievements to date, however, there is still a considerable group in need of emergency assistance.

From the Shelter Recovery component, the early recovery interventions will be designed to upgrade existing construction practices through safer construction and risk reduction techniques. This is to be achieved, in part, through dissemination of simple educational materials and skills development.  

Objectives Ensure that the 450,000 - 500,000 of the most severely affected households have adequate

shelter; Ensure that the 450,000 - 500,000 most severely affected households have basic NFI, such as

cooking utensils, blankets, mosquito nets, and water collection containers; Improve construction techniques to create safer living conditions; Ensure shelter assistance maximises access to livelihoods and employment; Reduce vulnerabilities to future natural disasters by improving housing techniques and safer

settlements planning.

Indicators Number of families with adequate shelters; Number of families with access to household supplies; Number of houses repaired and retrofitted with cyclone resistant designs or techniques; Number of vulnerable households who have re-established their livelihoods; Number of Integrated DRR practices applied.

Participating organisationsThe Shelter Cluster is supported by its member agencies and participating agencies in the response plan are: (UN-HABITAT, UNICEF, UNHCR, SC, ADRA, Arche Nova, International Medical Corps (IMC), Norwegian Refugee Council, IOM, CESVI, Welthungerhilfe (WHH)/GAA, World Concern, and

10 In Ayeyarwady Division alone, an estimated 70 percent of houses have been rebuilt.

30

MYANMAR

coordinated with Ministry of Social Affairs, Relief and Resettlement as well as Ministry of Construction and local authorities at hub levels.

Monitoring Based upon recent assessments and data, the Emergency Shelter cluster will identify specific programmatic and geographical gaps related to emergency shelter needs. Whilst addressing the immediate need for habitable and covered living space, cluster members will concurrently address more durable shelter solutions. This will involve a detailed analysis of natural and human resources available for the provision of culturally and environmentally appropriate shelters that incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction techniques. A community-based approach to monitoring will be used. Evaluation of the success of this plan will be based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the achievements in relation to the planned objectives.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedFailure to implement the emergency component of this plan will result in increased susceptibility to sickness and disease due to exposure to the elements. Likewise, failure to implement and coordinate early recovery activities will complicate the return of communities to their traditional lives. The early recovery strategy also reduces the risk of the loss of life in the event of future hazards or recurring natural phenomena.

WASH (WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE)Lead Agency - UNICEF

Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)In general, the cyclone-affected areas are flat and low-lying, with much ponded water. Where there is no ponded water, it is because the water table is very close to the surface. The dominant source of drinking water prior to the cyclone was rainwater harvested by households in large earthen pots (used during rainy season) or in large community ponds (used more in dry season). The sanitation coverage was very low (25%), and open defecation was the common practice in most communities. Although there is some knowledge of household disinfection using chlorine, the practice is not very common.

Recent assessments show five types of living conditions of the Cyclone-affected population: 1) camps or temporary settlements, 2) villages, 3) urban/peri urban communities, 4) mobile or scattered households and 5) host communities. The proportion of people within each group changes daily, as people are returning to their villages. Although different living conditions demand variations in the implementation of water and sanitation activities, the needs can be summarised as below: People are drinking and using unsafe surface water, due to house damage that collapsed roof-

rainwater harvesting systems. In addition, up to 40% of the ponds and wells have turned saline or turbid due to flooding;

Nearly 73% of the population is dependent on unsafe sources. Approximately 1.8 million 11 of the most severely affected people are in need of improved water supply;

Lack of sanitation facilities in camps and transition shelters presents an increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases due to the potential for contamination of surface water sources. Latrines that existed prior to the cyclone have collapsed or are now unsafe for use due to flooding. Currently nearly 20% of the affected population practices open defecation. However, unsafe excreta disposal with direct drop latrines without pits is common;

Crowded conditions and the absence of hygiene practices related to hand washing and household water treatment are conducive to the rapid spread of water borne diseases. In the affected area, 75% of population does not treat household water before use, and 66% do not have soap.

Objectives The overall aim of WASH interventions is to reduce the risk of water-borne diseases among affected populations through the provision of adequate supply of safe water, and to support appropriate hygiene and sanitation measures, through coordinated effort of all stakeholders and partners in the WASH Cluster:

11 Based on estimated total affected population of 2.4 million most severely affected.

31

MYANMAR

To ensure that 1.4 million cyclone-affected people have access to safe water drinking water through the supply of treated water or through various point of use water treatments up to April 2009;

To ensure that 1.4 million people have access to safe excreta disposal facilities through the rehabilitation old latrines or the construction of new excreta disposal facilities by April 2009;

To ensure that 350,000 families have the knowledge and the means to practice good hygiene through distribution of hygiene kits and training of community hygiene workers by April 2009;

To ensure that affected communities have continued access to sufficient domestic water through the rehabilitation of traditional ponds by September 2008;

To ensure that schools and health facilities in the affected area have access to sufficient quantities of safe water and adequate sanitation facilities by April 2009.

Indicators Safe drinking water three litres/capita/day through direct supply of water or through means to

treat water at household level; 12 litres/day of clear and fresh water for domestic non drinking use; Number of ponds rehabilitated and number of tube wells drilled; Latrines (or safe excreta disposal facility): Number of families having access to safe excreta

disposal facilities; Hygiene promotion: People have access to hygiene messages through various channels.

Participating organisationsAdventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Cooperazione e Sviluppo (CESVI), SC, Triangle GH (TGH), Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger [ACF]), WHO, UNDP and World Vision are the participating organisations. The government agencies relevant to the WASH sector are: Environmental Sanitation department and Central Health Education Bureau of the MoH; Department of Development Affairs; Ministry of Education (for school sanitation).

Monitoring Cluster approach at central and field level; Consolidated reporting from partners; Humanitarian Information Management (MIMU).

Implications if this response plan is not implemented Duplication as well as gaps in response leading to less efficient and effective use of resources; Lack of timely and relevant information for planning, implementation and evaluation of response; Less efficient exchange of policies, plans, technical guidance and practices with cluster partners.

32

MYANMAR

33

MYANMAR

COMMON SUPPORT SERVICESIn comparison to what has heretofore been the case in Myanmar, an unprecedented number of organisations are involved with the provision of relief assistance to the cyclone-affected populations. Critical common services including logistics, emergency telecommunications and safety and security services have been provided for the humanitarian community. Systematic coordination of international relief assistance efforts are vital to ensure that needs are systematically assessed and addressed.

COORDINATION AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Lead Agency: Office of Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Needs Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)Over 100 humanitarian organisations are now supporting national efforts in responding to the needs created by the devastating cyclone. The challenging context in Myanmar requires a broad scope and scale of services to address humanitarian needs of the cyclone-affected populations. An increasing need for access and information on needs, response gaps and duplications has resulted in greater demands for coordination, information products and joint advocacy, to ensure effective use of resources for the ultimate benefit of the vulnerable affected populations.

Under the HC, the cluster coordination approach has been activated, with the following clusters functioning and meeting regularly:

Cluster Cluster lead PartnersAgriculture FAO GAA, CESVI, IDE, ACTED, WSPA, ER cluster, Mercy Corps, Action

Aid, SC, Metta, World Vision, World Concern, TGH, Terre des Hommes Italia, ACF, Partners/Solidarities, Samaritan’s Purse, AMURT, CARE, GRET, UNDP, WFP, Muslim Aid, NPA, PACT, PIN, Red Cross Movement, Swiss Aid, line ministries (Ministry of agriculture and irrigation, ministry of livestock and fisheries, ministry of forestry

Early Recovery UNDP SC, IOM, Cooperazione e SviluppoCESVI, ILO, Merlin, UNEP, and UN-HABITAT

Education UNICEF/ Save the Children

Ministry of Education, Department of Social Welfare and the following cluster partners: CESVI-ActEd; GAA; Ministry of Education; Norwegian Refugee Council; Pestalozzi; SC; UNESCO; UNICEF

Emergency Telecommunications

WFP & UNICEF

UNICEF, UNHCR, SC, ADRA, Arche Nova, IMC, NRC, IOM, CESVI, WHH/GAA, World Concern) and Ministry of Social Affairs, Relief and Resettlement as well as Ministry of Construction and local authorities at hub levels

Food WFP -Health WHO/Merlin ACF, ADRA, AZG, CARE, CESVI, GAA, GRET, KMSS, PACT, SC,

UNDP, and World Vision. In addition, WFP partners with a host of local agencies such as the Myanmar Red Cross Society and community-based organisations, including faith-based and local NGOs, under the umbrella of WFP’s direct implementation

Logistics WFP UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, Merlin, CESVI, SCF, PSI, MSI, AXFB, UNDP, Relief International, IMC, ADRA, International Alliance for HIV/AIDS together with Aide Medicale Internationale (AMI), Myanmar Business Coalition on AIDS (MBCA), and Pyi Gyi Khin (PGK)

Nutrition UNICEF UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, UNDP, SCF, WHO, Norwegian Church Aid, WVI, ACF, MSF-CH, IRC, WSPA Asia, CARE, Spain MOFA, German MOFA, MERLIN, OCHA, DFID, Samaritan’s Purse, Danish Red Cross

Protection of Children and Women

UNICEF/ Save the Children

SC, ACF, Merlin, PSI, MSF-(Ch), AZG, AMDA, Myanmar Health assistant Association (MHAA), MDM, WHO, WFP and UNICEF

Shelter- Emergency Shelter- Shelter Recovery

IFRCUN-HABITAT

Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare and Relief and Resettlement, MoH, Myanmar Medical Association, Myanmar Maternal Child and Welfare Association, Myanmar Red Cross Society, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, IOM, UNIAP, SC, World Vision, EMDH, Yinthway Foundation, Burnet Institute, Population Services International, Aide Medical International, Marie Stopes International, AMURT, Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation, Thingaha, AXFB, NGO Gender Group, Rattana Metta, Metta Development Foundation, Child Focused Network, YKBWA, NYWCA, MCC, MNMA, CBCM, additional local

34

MYANMAR

Cluster Cluster lead PartnersNGOs and community support groups.

WASH UNICEF ADRA, CESVI, SC, TGH, ACF, WHO, UNDP and World Vision are the participating organisations. Environmental Sanitation department and Central Health Education Bureau of the MoH; Department of Development Affairs; Ministry of Education (for school sanitation)

Inter-cluster coordination is ensured through regular consultations of the IASC country team and cluster leads meetings. The Early Recovery network ensures a coherent programmatic response across clusters on early recovery. Situation reports are compiled and disseminated regularly, regarding the current situation and response efforts at the national and international levels. The IASC country team and the humanitarian community is supported with systematic and standardised information, including maps, meeting schedules, and a Who does What Where (3W) database.

The HC in Myanmar has the overall responsibility to facilitate the implementation of activities included in the present revised appeal until the end of April 2009. To support the coordination functions, an UNDAC team was initially deployed, subsequently replaced by an OCHA team which set up standard coordination mechanisms for the emergency relief phase of the Nargis response. Initially concentrated in Yangon due to difficulties in deploying international staff to the hardest-hit areas, OCHA is working closely with the Early Recovery network and the Logistics cluster to establish and staff six field coordination hubs (in Laputta, Mawlaminynegyun, Bogale, Pyapon, Pathein and Yangon). The hubs serve to extend the existing coordination mechanisms to the field, and strengthen the flow of information between national and township levels. The Myanmar Information Management Unit will provide common tools for data collection and monitoring of activities.

An early recovery coordination mechanism has also been established, at the initiative of UNDP and under the leadership of the UN RC, to ensure a coherent programmatic response across all clusters (Early Recovery Network). Additional Early Recovery Working Groups have also been created; so as to cover key thematic areas that otherwise would not be addressed. In light of the parallel development of relief and early recovery, the coordination framework for the latter function will continue to be closely synchronised – and, at the field level, integrated – with the OCHA-led humanitarian coordination, with the aim to provide seamless coordination support to the RC/HC and the broad humanitarian community.

Objectives Effective coordination among organisations involved with the delivery of humanitarian assistance

to ensure a timely and needs-based response, both in Yangon and in the cyclone-affected areas; Efficient monitoring of activities financed and implemented through the revised Appeal; Coordination structures properly reflecting and facilitating the implementation of early recovery

activities; Ensure the coordination, collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of information to

facilitate decision-making and optimise the humanitarian response; Strengthen linkages and coordination with national authorities and other relevant partners.

Indicators Number of organisations participating in cluster and IASC country team meetings; Situation Reports disseminated regularly; New maps and updated meeting schedules shared regularly; 3W database established and regularly updated; Integrated Monitoring Matrix established, updated, and disseminated; Transparency of mechanisms used for the allocation of CERF funds; Strategy inter-agency framework developed for early recovery issues; Regular monitoring of the implementation and impact of early recovery activities.

Participating agencies in the IASC Country Team: UN Country Team members, INGOs, National Civil Society Consortium representative, IFRC (ICRC is observer)

35

MYANMAR

Implications if not implemented: Limited consultation between organisations involved with the relief effort, leading to the

uncoordinated delivery of relief assistance; Absence of accurate information to guide coordination and decision-making.

EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS Lead Agency: WFP and UNICEFNeeds Assessment (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)The establishment of a robust Common Emergency Telecommunications system and Communications Centre (COMCEN) at the emergency operation hubs in six common operational areas is at the centre of this response plan. A COMCEN would allow UN agencies, partner NGOs, other humanitarian agencies and the Government of the Union of Myanmar (GoUM) to better coordinate assessment, rescue and relief operations across the Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions. This project will be implemented within the first six months of the initial emergency operation, and services will be provided for an additional 6 months.

Objectives Provide common telecommunications infrastructure and services, covering both data and security

communications, essential for efficient and effective operations; Provide standardised information and communications technology (ICT) platforms and

procedures to avoid duplication and ensure cost-effective services; Ensure a smooth transition to post-emergency recovery and reconstruction activities.

Indicators Radio-rooms are deployed and fully operational, as per Minimum Operating Security Standards

(MOSS) requirements for UN Security Phase 1, in all six common operational areas; All six common operational areas are covered by common radio-networks; The Humanitarian Community and the GoUM in the common operational areas have reliable

access to the data connectivity facilities; The Humanitarian Community and the GoUM in the common operational areas have access to

the services provided by the common radio-rooms at the achieved sites; Power supply is sufficient to provide uninterrupted Emergency Telecommunications Cluster

(ETC) services at all sites.

Monitoring Cluster deliverables will be implemented in a coordinated and consistent manner, in collaboration

with all involved partners; Weekly Cluster meetings will be held for information-sharing and monitoring purposes; Following project completion, a customer survey will be conducted and used as the basis of a

lessons-learned analysis; The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) – also Designated Official (DO) in Myanmar – is responsible

for ensuring the safety and security of UN staff.

Implications if this response plan is not implemented The UN Country Team (UNCT) and DO will not be able to meet MOSS requirements and

associated responsibilities, with regard to emergency telecommunications; Lack of operational telecommunications infrastructure and services; Inadequate provision made to ensure the safety and security of UN staff members involved in the

relief effort.

LOGISTICS

Lead Agency-WFPNeeds Analysis (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)The Logistics Cluster has provided overall logistics augmentation and coordination to support all humanitarian assistance being delivered to the affected population, in support of the Myanmar authorities, and in particularly hard to reach places. As most delivery targets can now be reached though regular deliveries by boat, barges or trucks, the operations are gradually phasing down. The Logistics Cluster plans to phase out in mid-August 2008. Meanwhile, it is supporting organisations to

36

MYANMAR

access commercial transport and logistics providers, to secure sustainable services to meet their humanitarian and develop project requirements.

Objective Set up interim common logistics services for the humanitarian community to facilitate rapid response to: Ensure an uninterrupted supply chain of life saving relief items to the affected population (set up

of staging areas, strategic and tactical cargo movement by air and sea, mobile storage, ground transport capacity, infrastructure repair, capacity building on warehousing, stalk inventory, distribution mechanisms);

Ensure that the necessary operational capability (office and accommodation facilities, vehicles) are in place;

Provide necessary coordination and information management (activation of the logistics cluster and support from UNJLC).

Indicators Amount of relief cargo handled through warehouse and common transport services (number of

rotations completed); Common transport network in place (number of hubs operational); Updated Logs Information made available (number of visitors).

Participating organisationsHumanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, UNDP, SC, WHO, Norwegian Church Aid, World Vision, ACF, MSF-CH, IRC, WSPA Asia, CARE, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), German MOFA, MERLIN, OCHA, Department for International Development (DFID), Samaritan’s Purse, Danish Red Cross.

Monitoring Meeting logs and UNJLC log sheets.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedDelays in distribution of relief items to most remote areas not yet reached. Hasty phase out will not allow for gradual scaling down of logistics operations, which ensure putting in place local transport arrangements.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Lead Agency: UNDSSNeeds Assessment (Priority Needs and Response Strategy)Humanitarian workers, particularly first responders, are often exposed to potentially traumatising events. The impact of Cyclone Nargis fits in this context. The extent to which these experiences impact their productivity and well being has been well documented. To mitigate potential trauma and to promote productivity, a framework for providing psychosocial support to UN staff members responding to a tragic emergency is needed.

The number of UN staff members in Myanmar is expected to increase significantly as emergency response progresses. This will strain the existing Security Management System in the country. Safety and Security services are required to be coordinated for the benefit and safety of UN staff members involved in the relief effort, under the administrative supervision of UNDSS Myanmar. Assessments of staff security will be conducted, training organised and informational materials provided, as is technical advice to management and agency security focal points.

Objectives To promote UN operations and enhance resilience among UN staff through the development of a

sustainable critical incident stress management programme within the UN system in Myanmar; To build the capacities of all UN offices in Myanmar related stress and crisis management; To ensure well informed UNCT on safety and security constraints in the country.

37

MYANMAR

Indicators Number of stress counselling training provided to security focal points; Number of staff who receive counselling services; Number of security updates produced and disseminated.

Participating agencies: IASC partners, as above

MonitoringUNDSS will continue to monitor the situation through security risk assessments, and provide briefings to the UN and humanitarian community. UNDSS will also continue to liaise with government, military and key national actors and try and keep abreast of the evolving security situation. UNDSS will disseminate any special government instructions on security and travel related issues to the humanitarian community.

Implications if this response plan is not implementedInsecurity could increase in the Delta. Without proper security coordination and implementation of mitigating measures, UN staff members could face increased risk for their safety and security.

38

MYANMAR

5. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION AND PRIORITISATION OF PROJECTS

A. CRITERIAThe IASC Country Team in Myanmar agreed upon broad overall criteria for projects to be included in this appeal. Criteria for project selection were also developed at the sector-level within each of the respective clusters. These criteria were developed in accordance with the objectives defined within each of the sector response plans to address priority needs.

Projects were initially reviewed and vetted against the agreed sector objectives and criteria within the clusters, in some cases with specially convened project review committees and in some cases by cluster Chairs and Co-Chairs.

Projects were then shared with OCHA, which carried out a second round of reviews and vetting in consultation with the cluster Chairs and Co-Chairs. Selected projects were finally submitted to the HC for clearance and final approval.

The IASC Country Team agreed to the following criteria for project selection: Projects will be limited to Relief and Early Recovery activities, within the humanitarian context; Projects will be capable of making a measurable impact in the 12 month time-frame of this appeal

(May 2008- April 2009); Projects will be carried out only in areas directly affected by Cyclone Nargis; Projects will clearly define their target beneficiaries and be concerned only with assistance to the

population directly affected by Cyclone Nargis; Projects will be carried out by an organisation having the technical expertise in-country, as well

as capacity and mandate for implementation. Organisations without established working relations and offices in Myanmar prior to cyclone Nargis were proposed to be implementing partners;

National NGOs participate mainly as implementing partners for those international organisations having established working relations in the country.

B. PRIORITISATION

The IASC Country Team agreed to the following criteria for project prioritisation: Priority will be given in the first instance to the most immediate, life-saving Relief activities. In

due course these activities will be scaled down while Early Recovery is sustained and increased in coming months to help restore livelihoods and avoid creating aid dependency;

Priority will be given to projects that target key vulnerable groups such as single-headed households.

39

MYANMAR

6. SUMMARY: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

1. Address the basic humanitarian needs of the cyclone-affected population

Number of vulnerable families living in safer shelters and provided with adequate non-food items

Shelter Ensure that 500,000 cyclone-affected households in the 40 townships have adequate shelter

Ensure that 500,000 cyclone-affected households have basic tools for self-repair

Ensure that 500,000 cyclone-affected households have adequate access to basic household goods such as cooking utensils, blankets, mosquito nets, and water collection containers.

UNHCR-Emergency Shelter and NFI to survivors of Cyclone Nargis

UNICEF-Emergency Shelter and Basic Survival Items For Affected Populations

ADRA-Emergency and Durable Shelter for 10,000 Families in Myaungmya and Labutta Townships

IMC-Livelihoods Support to Three Cyclone-affected Townships

Number of affected people having access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities

WASH Ensure that 1.4 million of Nargis-affected population have access to safe drinking water

Ensure that 1.4 million affected population have access to safe excreta disposal facilities

UNICEF - Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Response For Affected Populations

WHO-Improved drinking water supply and sanitation in cyclone-affected areas (Ayeyarwady and Yangon Division)

PARTNERS/SOLIDARITES - Post cyclonic water and sanitation intervention in the South of Bogale Township - Ayeyarwady Division

40

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

CESVI - Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion for the affected population in 38 village tracts in Dedaye Township

SC-Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion for Cyclone-affected Populations in Myanmar

TGH-Provision of safe water and adequate sanitation infrastructures

ACF – WASH programme for Nargis affected population

Ensure that 350,000 families have the knowledge and the means to practise good hygiene

Ensure that 3,000 communities have continued access to sufficient domestic water through rehabilitation of traditional ponds

Ensure that schools and health facilities in the affected area have access to sufficient quantities of safe water and adequate sanitation facilities

Number of food-insecure people receiving food assistancePercentage of affected communities reporting adequate food consumption

Food Enhance food security through continued coverage of basic and complementary relief food and cash assistance to 924,000 affected people through targeted relief food distribution

WFP – Food assistance to cyclone-affected population

41

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Number of children, pregnant and lactating mothers receiving multiple micro-nutrientsNumber of children receiving vitamin A supplementsNumber of acutely malnourished children receiving therapeutic care

Nutrition Provide supplementary and/ or therapeutic care to acutely malnourished infants, children, pregnant and lactating women

Prevent micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation

Support and promote appropriate infant feeding practices in the affected areas

Identify areas of particular vulnerability using rapid nutrition assessment, surveys, screenings and surveillance

UNICEF- Treatment and prevention of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among children and pregnant/ lactating women

WFP – Food assistance to cyclone-affected population

SC - Food Aid and Nutrition

Number of people accessing clinical and preventive health care servicesNumber of children, women and men reached by mobile health servicesNumber of general practitioners trained on mental health disorders

Health Engage national and international partners for coordinated and collaborative response

Assess, monitor and respond to health needs and gaps

WHO-Support to the provision of comprehensive curative and preventive care in cyclone-affected areasUNICEF-Prevention of maternal and childhood illness and deaths in the affected areasPSI-Provision of life-saving basic and reproductive health care services Relief International – Integrated Health and NFI response programmeSC-Emergency health intervention in cyclone-affected areasMSI – Access to commodities and communications in emergency for SRH services (ACCESS)International HIV/AIDS Alliance with MBCA, AMI and Pyi Gyi Khin-Strengthen responses to sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDSIOM-Enhancing health care service delivery in hard to reach areas of the Ayeyarwady Delta UNFPA – Provision of lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care in emergencyIMC-Community health to three cyclone-affected townshipsIOM-Delivering mental health services and strengthening resilience among cyclone-affected communities

Strengthen disease surveillance and control

WHO-Coordinated approach to early identification of critical health needs and response

42

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Number of people accessing support services (psycho-social support, child friendly spaces and dignity kits) Number of children reunified or cared for under community placements

Protection of Children and Women

Enhance access to protection and psychosocial support to women and children affected by Cyclone Nargis

UNICEF- Protecting children and women affected by cyclone NargisSC-Sustainable community-based protection and support for children UNFPA-Protection of vulnerable female survivorsUNFPA–Procurement and distribution of dignity kits to women, girls, boys and menWorld Vision-Community-based Protection Project

Number of children resuming schooling

Education 362,400 girls and boys benefit from provision of schools and learning materials

UNICEF – Increasing children’s access to learning and schooling

Number of children receiving Early Childhood Development, Non Formal Education and psycho-social support

Build the capacity of 9,300 teachers through training (psycho-social, child centred methodologies)

PCF – Education and psycho-social support

SC – Psycho-social support

Number of families receiving seeds, livestock, agro-tools, and training

Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries

Restore food security of small scale and landless farmers and fishing communities

FAO – Annual food crop production for small scale farmers FAO – Emergency assistance to rice farmers through the provision of draught animalsFAO – Emergency assistance to poor and landless families through provision of small ruminants, pigs and poultryFAO – Vegetable production and fruit trees for landless households, schools/orphanagesFAO – Emergency vaccination, treatment and feeding of surviving animalsFAO – Emergency supply of fishing gear, boat repair, tools and implements

Address emergency and rehabilitation needs through coordination

FAO – Coordination of agricultural emergency and rehabilitation interventions

43

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Common ServicesNumber of staff trained on emergency tele- and data communicationsUN radio rooms operational

Emergency Telecommunications

Provide emergency tele- and data communication to Myanmar humanitarian community

UNICEF – Emergency Telecommunications - Security WFP – Emergency Telecommunications – Data Connectivity

Number of deliveries to affected areas

Logistics Provide overall logistics augmentation and coordination to support delivery of humanitarian assistance

WFP – Logistics augmentation and coordination in support of the humanitarian community

Number of UN staff and dependents aided with stress counselling

Staff safety and security

Build capacity of the UN system to deal with stress and crisis management, and provide access to UN to professional counselling services

UNDSS – Critical incident stress management support

Number of travel/security advisories disseminated

Enhance safety and security of humanitarian workers

UNDSS – Coordination of Safety of Relief and Recovery Operations

Cluster system activatedNumber of agencies attending coordination meetingsInter-agency response plans in placeNumber of information products disseminated

Coordination and Information Management

Ensure timely, adequate and efficient humanitarian relief response through strong and proactive coordination support, information management and advocacy

OCHA - Coordination and support services

44

MYANMAR

Strategic Priority Key indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

2. Early recovery to begin rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of the cyclone-affected population

Number of vulnerable households, gender-specific, provided with appropriate agricultural, fisheries and livestock inputs

Agriculture livestock, fisheries and forestry

Resume rice cultivation, vegetable cropping and other alternative crops such as root crops, pulses, peanuts and other oil crops.

GAA-Recovery of rice and small scale horticultural productionIMC – Livelihoods support to three cyclone-affected townshipsPARTNER/SOLIDARITES - Post-cyclonic food security intervention in BogaleCESVI-Early recovery assistance to small scale agricultural family sectorGRET – Agriculture revitalisation and livelihood promotionUNDP – Early recovery support to farmers

Re-establish home plantations, orchards and mangroves

FAO – Mangrove forest assessment rehabilitation

Resume fishing activities

CARE – Agriculture, livestock and fisheries recoveryACTED and CESVI – Early recovery support to poor fishermen communitiesTGH – Rehabilitation of fishery sectorWorld Concern/Samaritan’s Purse – Rehabilitation of coastal fisheries

Number of affected families receiving micro-credit support Number of people befitting from cash for work programmes

Percentage of damaged community facilities in targeted villages restored and rebuilt better.

Early recovery Strengthen non-agricultural livelihoods

Build capacity through revitalisation and empowerment of civil society organisations and self-help organisations

UNDP – Integrated Community Based Early Recovery FrameworkUNDP – Support to affected members of the UNDP/PACT Microfinance ProjectUNDP – Village Care CentresIOM – Tracking of Severely Destroyed Communities to Support Early RecoveryACTED and CESVI – Early recovery assistance to vulnerable communities through labour intensive rehabilitation of basic infrastructure SC – Public Work Scheme for Infrastructure and Livelihoods RecoveryMerlin – Early Recovery Programme-south east Labutta township

Increase community mobility, to facilitate the movement of goods and people to markets and to allow for improved access for the delivery of assistance

ILO – Restoring critical inter-village road access and income generationSC – Market recovery through targeted credit support

Minimise ecological damage by assisting local communities in their early recovery efforts

UNEP – Environmental helpdesk for post-cyclone recovery efforts

Strengthen the capacity of communities to withstand future natural disasters

UN-Habitat – Safer settlements recovery and cyclone resistant rebuildingUNDP – Disaster risk reduction in cyclone-affected communities

45

MYANMAR

Strategic Priority Key indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Number of food-insecure people benefiting from Food for Work programmes

Food Enhance food security through Food for Work programme

WFP – Food assistance to cyclone-affected population

Number of schools, including monastic and pre-schools repaired/ reconstructedNumber of temporary safe and child friendly learning spaces set up

Education Repair, rehabilitate and reconstruct 1,640 damaged and destroyed schools

Provide 1,315 temporary safe learning spaces for basic education schools

Provide 520 temporary safe learning spaces for early childhood development activities

ACTED and CESVI – Early recovery support to affected communities through temporary school construction and rehabilitation in Labutta and DedayeGAA-Reconstruction of 15 rural primary schools in severely affected villages of Bogale

SC-Promote children’s rights to education

UNESCO-Child and community empowerment for education in emergencies and DRR

Number of teachers (including preschool teachers) trained in psychosocial, child-centred methodologies and DRR

UNESCO – Capacity building for disaster response and resilience in education administration and management

46

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Number of health facilities restored

Number of people accessing and utilising SRH commodities

Health Restore and revitalise the functionality of the health system and build capacity for early delivery

WHO-Resorting and revitalisation of the health care system including TB control and HIV/AIDS prevention and careADRA-Building health better in LabuttaIOM-Repair, Rebuild and Rehabilitate primary health centres, maternity homes & capacity enhancement in the Ayeyarwady DeltaUNDP-Restoration of basic health services as part of an integrated package of support to 750 villages.Merlin-health system revitalisation and strengthening, disaster risk reduction and preparedness in Nargis affected areas of Labutta TownshipCESVI-Health promotion in 38 villages tracts in Dedaye TownshipIOM-Let’s Reduce HIV Vulnerability Together!-A safe mobility programme in Ayeyarwady DeltaUNICEF-Treatment and prevention of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among children and pregnant/ lactating women

SC-Food Aid and NutritionNumber of -pregnant/lactating women and children under five receiving supplementary nutritional food

Number of nutritional surveys and surveillance

Nutrition Effectively manage acutely malnourished infants, children, pregnant and lactating women by providing supplementary and/ or therapeutic programme

Prevent micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation

To support and promote appropriate infant feeding practices in the affected areas;

To identify areas of particular vulnerability using rapid nutrition assessment, surveys, screenings and surveillance

UNICEF-Protecting children and women affected by the cyclone Nargis

47

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

Number of community protection forums where women and children participate

Number of service providers and community workers trained on protection issues, including SGBVNumber of separated children reunified with their families or cared for under community placements

Protection of Children and Women

Empower women and children to participate in local protection mechanisms

Mainstream protection concerns into post-Nargis response programmes

Build capacity of multi-level protection service providers

Improve vulnerable children’s access to tracing and reunification and community placement programmes

SC-Sustainable community-based protection and support for children UNFPA-Protection of vulnerable female survivorsWorld Vision-Community Based Protection ProjectNRC-Re-construction of Cyclone-Resistant Low-Cost Village Housing for Cyclone Nargis Victims

Number of families living in safer houses

Number of disaster resistant community buildings installed

Shelter Improve construction techniques to create safer living conditions

Ensure shelter assistance maximises access to livelihoods and employment for the most vulnerable groups.

IOM-Repairing and Rebuilding Bamboo Housing in Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun and Pyapon TownshipsSC-Reconstruction of cyclone resistant low cost village housingACTED and CESVI-Early Recovery Assistance to vulnerable affected communities through the provision of safe shelter in the townships of Bogale, Dedaye and PyaponWHH/GAA-Reconstruction of 1000 low cost houses in severely affected villages of Bogale TownshipADRA-Emergency and Durable Shelter for 10,000 Families in Myaungmya and Labutta TownshipsWorld Concern-Provision of all weather multi-purpose community buildingsUN-HABITAT-Community driven safer shelter recovery and sustainable resettlement for vulnerable communities

Reduce vulnerabilities to future natural disasters

UN-HABITAT-Support to the coordination of early recovery shelter interventionsADRA-Sanitation for 20,000 Families in Myaungmya and Labutta Townships

Number of water and sanitation systems

WASH Ensure the 1.4 million affected population has

UNDP-Restoration of basic water supply and sanitation systemsWorld Vision-Emergency WASH & Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in the Recovery Phase of Cyclone Nargis

48

MYANMAR

Strategic Priorities Key Indicators Corresponding Response Plan

Objectives Associated Projects

restored, using Cash for Work modality as appropriate

access to safe excreta disposal facilities

Ensure that 3000 communities have continued access to sufficient domestic water through rehabilitation of traditional ponds

Ensure that schools and health facilities in the affected area have access to sufficient quantities of safe water and adequate sanitation facilities

49

MYANMAR

7. CLUSTER APPROACH IN MYANMAR

BackgroundDiscussions surrounding the application of the cluster approach within the Myanmar context began in January 2007 at the Regional Humanitarian Reform Workshop in Bangkok. The presence of the Resident/HC and staff initiated a consultation process with headquarters on the support and training required to put this into place in the Myanmar context. Soon after an IASC Country Team was formed with a large number of international NGOs included at the decision-making table. By the end of 2007, initial work on contingency planning commenced with the cluster approach used as a framework. The agreed cluster approach, with identified cluster leads, facilitated the quick start of cluster approach after Nargis hit Myanmar.

Partnership and CoordinationThe establishment of the IASC Country Team was instrumental in fostering a more equitable partnership between the UN and non-UN community in Myanmar. The inclusion of INGOs with significant operational capacity in country was the first step towards a comprehensive response. The current IASC Country Team boasts over 20 participants, including the active involvement of an NGO liaison/accountability officer to cover international and local NGOs as well as the interests of community based organisations. Co-leadership of three key clusters -- Health, Protection of Women and Children and Education-- between UN agencies and international NGOs is unique, and has strengthened the engagement of partners in these clusters. The collective challenges faced by the international community in fielding staff to the delta have, to some extent, fostered a stronger spirit of partnership amongst cluster members.

Dedicated cluster leads (coordinators) currently serve all clusters. The assignment of information managers to support each cluster is also materialising, with the encouragement of the HC. With the support of the Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), the development of inter-cluster planning tools is now underway. A simple ‘Prioritisation per Township’ matrix, with input from all clusters, was developed two weeks into the emergency and informed, amongst others, the allocation of assistance through the logistics cluster. Development of an Integrated Monitoring Matrix (IMM) enables clusters to agree on key indicators against which to monitor their response. This also includes a set of ‘accountability indicators’ from the Accountability Working Group, selected and agreed to by cluster leads. Information of the IMM will be captured on a regular basis, to feed into a trend analysis and the mapping of gaps by cluster. These two tools build on the traditional 3W product and support strategic planning and prioritisation of the response.

Current coordination mechanismsCluster Cluster Leads Sub Clusters/ Working Groups

Agriculture FAOEarly Recovery (Network/Cluster)

UNDP Technical working groups (i) non-agricultural livelihoods; (ii) community infrastructure; (iii) social recovery and community capacity; (iv) environment; and (v) disaster risk reduction. :

Education UNICEF & Save the Children

Technical working group on psycho-social support

Emergency Telecommunications

WFP & UNICEF

Food WFPHealth WHO & Merlin Five Working Groups on specific issues such as Early Warning

Surveillance System, Dengue Fever, Monitoring and Evaluation etc…

Logistics WFPNutrition UNICEF Technical working groups: Infant Feeding in Emergency,

Therapeutic and Supplementary Feeding and Nutrition surveillance

Protection of Women and Children

UNICEF & Save the Children

Technical working group on Gender, Child Friendly spaces, Unaccompanied and separated children, psycho-social mental support etc.

Shelter IFRC & UN-HABITAT

Strategic Advisory Group (SAG)Technical Working Group (TWG)

WASH UNICEF

Working GroupsTemporary Settlements IOMCash Local NGO Resource Centre.

50

MYANMAR

Accountability Local NGO Resource Centre

51

MYANMAR

ANNEX I.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES

Myanmar:Cyclone Nargis

Emergency appeal n° MDRMM002 (revised)GLIDE n° TC-2008-000057-MMR4 July 2008

This second Revised Emergency Appeal seeks CHF xx (USD xx or EUR xx) in cash, kind, or services to support the Myanmar Red Cross Society to assist some 100,000 households for a total of 36 months (to be completed by May 2011). The revised objectives and activities planned respond to a request from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to provide support in delivering immediate assistance and longer-term support in the sectors of relief distributions (food and non-food items), emergency health, water and sanitation, hygiene, shelter, livelihoods, and early recovery.

Appeal history: 16 May 2008: A Revised Emergency Appeal was launched for CHF 52,857,809 (USD 50.8

million or EUR 32.7 million) to assist 100,000 families for three years. 6 May 2008: A Preliminary Emergency Appeal was launched for CHF 6,290,909 (USD 5.9

million or EUR 3.86 million) to assist 30,000 families for six months. 5 May 2008: CHF 200,000 (USD 190,000 or EUR 123,000) was allocated from the

International Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

Summary: This second Revised Emergency Appeal reflects the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ continued commitment towards assisting the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in meeting the huge needs of communities affected by Cyclone Nargis. This appeal builds on the first revised emergency appeal launched on 16 May, and the preliminary emergency appeal of 6 May. It provides an update on the progress and challenges of the emergency operation (based on available information), and in particular, outlines the way forward for priority sectors in the relief and recovery operation.

Progress of relief and recovery operation: Over the last few weeks, the operation continued to face various challenges. Guiding principles on carrying out aid and assistance activities were issued for the international humanitarian community, by the Government on 10 June. This caused some confusion amongst the international organisations and the government authorities as to how they should be implemented, and created further delays in the processing of visas and travel permission. However, this has now been largely clarified and delays experienced in receiving permission to travel to the delta appear to have eased. There is also some hope that information, analysis and assessments will also be improved. As the humanitarian operation continues to be allowed to develop, there is evidence of improved operational infrastructure and it is clear that the delivery of much needed support to the beneficiaries is more effective and comprehensive.

It has been widely reported that the magnitude of destruction of Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar and its people is unprecedented. MRCS had no previous experience in responding to a natural disaster of these proportions This situation understandably created significant constraints which continue to be identified and tackled, with the support of the International Federation and other partners of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Despite the constraints encountered, the Movement, the MRCS and its volunteers in particular, have been recognised for the immediate response on the ground from day one. The MRCS, in its auxiliary role to the Myanmar Government, is widely recognised as one of the leaders in the national response.

52

MYANMAR

Moving forward: With the revision of this three-year appeal, the operation will concentrate on immediate needs which are strategically phased into developing and implementing programmes designed to address medium-to-longer-term needs.

Lessons from this operation have highlighted the importance of and the need to support local communities with the capacity to respond to and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. In order to achieve this within an environment of poor infrastructure which includes transport and communication difficulties, an integrated/multi-sectoral approach is imperative. It is crucial that the communities themselves take an active part in the process of identifying and reducing the risks and vulnerabilities that they face. This is central to the operation and incorporates the way much of the affected population responds to the effects of floods and other natural occurrences.

Coordination and partnershipsThe International Federation has taken a clear role in-country to support the MRCS in coordinating movement resources and personnel. This is based on the good relationship established between the International Federation’s country delegation and the MRCS, and with relevant authorities. A true ‘Movement approach’ has also been achieved in supporting the MRCS in its emergency operation, with all partners working towards common goals through openness and transparency in planning and implementation.

Movement cooperationInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The cooperation between the MRCS, the International Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was initiated at the very outset of the response to Cyclone Nargis. The ICRC will continue to support the responses defined by the MRCS and the International Federation, as needed and to the extent possible.

The ICRC has committed to provide significant contributions within the frame and plan of the Emergency Appeal. This will include supporting water, sanitation and hygiene promotion in the Dedaye and Pyapon townships, as well as working with the MRCS to assess and establish any further support that may be able to be provided to health facilities. In addition, the ICRC will support the efforts of the International Federation and the MRCS to produce a first aid manual. In collaboration with the International Federation, the ICRC will also provide capacity building support to the MRCS, to enhance reporting and decision making through a systematic mapping of needs.

The MRCS has increased its capacity to respond to the needs of households separated by the cyclone, primarily through the collection of Safe and Well and Anxious for News messages. This has been done through the technical and financial support of the ICRC, the costs of which are covered by the ICRC and are not included in this emergency appeal. Similarly, the ICRC is supporting the MRCS through training and equipping staff and volunteers to dispose of human remains in a safe, legal and dignified manner.

External cooperationInter-agency clusters: The International Federation continues in its role of convening the emergency shelter cluster, with support from the UNHCR in response to the huge needs on the ground. The MRCS and the International Federation will also participate in the cluster meetings relevant to Red Cross Red Crescent programmes. There is also generally close cooperation with the humanitarian community, such as conducting psychosocial activities in schools with UNICEF.

The PoNJA: Thirty MRCS representatives along with representatives of the Government, ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), the UN, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, international non-governmental organizations, the private sector and individual volunteers, have been involved in the PoNJA, covering over 300 villages.

Red Cross and Red Crescent actionMRCS volunteers in affected areas continue to be in the frontline, providing relief assistance, shelter support, access to potable water, first aid care and psychological support, as well as referring people to any available facilities. In many areas reached, the MRCS staff and volunteers represent the only organization to have provided assistance to vulnerable communities.

The scale and size of this operation is unprecedented in Myanmar and as such, the MRCS has drawn upon its national capacity through the deployment of volunteers from non-affected divisions and states

53

MYANMAR

to support the assessment, analysis and response. Providing additional support to the MRCS headquarters for the implementation of the emergency operation, is a team of technical delegates from the International Federation, located in both Yangon and the affected areas.

Health: Existing MRCS first aid posts in affected areas continue to extend services staffed by the MRCS volunteers who have also accompanied township medical teams in mobile medical units. To date, 400 trained community-based first aid volunteers have undertaken refresher training in health and hygiene promotion including psychosocial support. Water quality testing and treatment was also conducted using chlorine tablets which were given out during the relief distributions. Working in the affected areas, these MRCS volunteers have contributed towards the prevention of disease outbreaks and have provided health care support to affected households in villages and monasteries. Additionally, MRCS volunteers have assisted daily in temporary shelters, providing first aid care, psychological support, feeding the sick, assisting in tracing and restoring family links, and taking care of children orphaned as a result of the cyclone.

Water and sanitation: In an immediate response to the need for potable drinking water in the affected areas, two water and sanitation emergency response units and additional water treatment units were deployed to provide safe drinking water in the Labutta, Bogale and Mawlamyinegyun townships and surrounding villages. Due to the initial constraints faced in getting approval from the authorities for international expatriates to travel to the affected areas, local engineers were identified, recruited and trained to operate the water purification units. The teams of local engineers, technicians and MRCS volunteers/staff continue to operate the units under the supervision and monitoring of expatriate delegates from the French and German/Austrian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit (ERU) teams and the Australian Red Cross delegate.

Relief: In parallel to the health activities outlined above, the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement initiative to support the MRCS, has reached more than 480,000 beneficiaries who have been provided with non-food relief items. As of 3 July, between 2,000 and 3,000 households are being reached per day.

Shelter: Tarpaulins continue to be distributed widely to affected households. Additionally, the MRCS and the International Federation have worked together with the other main actors in the Emergency Shelter Cluster to provide village tract tool kits, in an approach that will work at community level rather than at individual household level. In this way, large numbers of households will have access to essential resources.

The Proposed OperationWith the relief operation well underway, the operations team is now refining the overall strategy. The field conditions suggest that rather than focusing on three distinct time-focused phases, the operation can be more effective and flexible on the basis of an immediate needs phase (primarily relief distributions), integrated with the medium and longer-term needs which will focus on early recovery and livelihoods integrated through all sectors.

At this stage in the operation, more detailed information is being received from the MRCS branches and volunteers, and the International Federation has been able to accompany the MRCS to the affected areas to assess further needs. The PoNJA is also being analysed and details will be released soon. Movement representatives have been in constant contact with PoNJA and ASEAN officials to ensure that planning was well-informed and assumptions tested.

In the short-term, programming has been based on information from primary sources (MRCS volunteers and International Federation delegates) and secondary sources (the Government, UN, and non-governmental organizations). In the medium and long term, responses will be based on detailed information coming from both the MRCS branches and cyclone hubs currently being established in the delta. As far as possible, PoNJA will also be used as one of the sources for future planning. However, there are still many areas where a detailed analysis is not yet available. Therefore, a flexible long-term planning process has been developed to accommodate more detailed planning in the future.

Lessons from this operation have already highlighted the benefits of capacity building of local communities. In order to achieve this, programming will necessarily adopt an integrated/multi-sectoral approach. Good health, a secure supply of food and a reliable livelihood, creates the basics of a security net necessary for households to be able to tackle risks facing a community, as well as the

54

MYANMAR

capacity to cope with a future disaster. These vital areas are addressed within the integrated Health, Water and Sanitation, Shelter and Recovery/Livelihoods components of this appeal. These sectors covered within the medium and long-term programming will address disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

It is essential to empower the local communities with the capacity to respond to and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. In order to achieve this, programming will need to take an integrated/multi-sectoral approach. At the same time, it is crucial that the communities themselves take an active part in the process of identifying and reducing the risks and vulnerabilities they face. If not, the solutions are rarely relevant nor sustainable. Support to these communities include: Raising awareness on the importance of disaster prepardness and disaster risk reduction. Community awareness on safe construction techniques, especially regarding cyclone and flood-

resistant structures. Environmental measures such as embankment reinforcement, and tree and mangrove planting to

strengthen the natural environment and provide natural protection. The development of early warning alert and evacuation systems led by the MRCS will play a

significant role in helping reduce the number of deaths and injuries in future disasters. The identification of and support for suitable evacuation centres.

A holistic, multi-sectoral, flexible and responsive approach to meet the evolving needs and operational context has therefore been developed to ensure effective support for the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected populations. This approach is embodied in a process of integrated community level engagement, where teams of MRCS staff and volunteers supported by International Federation delegates, will work to identify and consult with the most affected Village Tracts (i.e. the lowest administrative level in each township, comprising between 5 and 15 villages) to identify and respond to recovery needs. Using Red Cross and Red Crescent tools such as community-based first aid in action, vulnerability and capacity assessments (VCA), and livelihood tools, these teams will work with the community members to meet their needs in recovering from the impact of the disaster.

The benefit of this approach is that it aims to meet the actual recovery needs of the affected populations in the areas of health, water and sanitation, shelter, livelihoods and risk reduction, rather than impose a set of standard activities on all communities. Furthermore, the approach allows for the incorporation of ongoing assessment data and analysis of the impact of the cyclone and the recovery achieved by communities, through sustained access to and engagement in the affected areas.

Plan of ActionThe programme strategy is to cover 100,000 households of the most vulnerable communities within townships in the Ayeyarwady and Yangon divisions. The townships of focus are Bogale, Dedaye, Labutta, Mawlamyinegyun, Ngapudaw, Pyapon, Kyaiklat, Maubin, Myaungmya, Wakema, Kahmu, Kyungyangon and Twantay. This strategy is based on the needs assessed, characteristics of the operating environment and capacity of the MRCS supported by the International Federation, combined with the capacity of the Government, the UN, non-governmental organizations and other humanitarian actors.

In order to build this operation, a framework strategy has been developed which takes into consideration the unique constraints and opportunities in Myanmar. The strength and coverage of the MRCS can be utilized to provide closely coupled assessments and implementation with the support of, but not dependency on, the international staff. This must build a strong foundation for MRCS future activities. Earlier planning to form hubs to support branches has been incorporated into the strategy.

Myanmar is structured into 17 different States and Divisions. In this operation, the MRCS and the International Federation are active in the two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyarwady. Divisions are separated into townships which include towns, settlements and large rural areas. The MRCS and the International Federation have been active in more than 20 townships. Under the overall strategy, this will be refined to 13 key townships according to the needs. Townships are divided into Village Tracts and in urban areas, Wards. In the 13 township areas, there are close to 1,000 Village Tracts and Wards. Each Tract comprises several villages and has a population of approximately 2,000 to 5,000. The operations team and the MRCS will identify approximately 200 Tracts as the operational area, covering 100,000 households. The identification of these areas will be harmonized with other agency programmes to avoid overlap or duplication.

55

MYANMAR

Sector coordination: Because of the difficulties of both access and immediately available and reliable assessments, a multi-sectoral response will be adopted, through which MRCS and International Federation sector leads in Health, Water and Sanitation, Relief, Shelter and Livelihoods, will work as a coordinated planning and implementation group. As a group, they will also consider all programmes in the light of disaster risk reduction.

Relief distributions (food and basic non-food items)Objective 1: (Immediate needs): To ensure that up to 100,000 cyclone-affected households receive food and non-food items immediately, to help preserve their physical and mental well-being, human dignity and counter further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, whilst preparing the ground for longer-term recovery activities. Objective 2: (Medium and long-term needs): To ensure strongly affected households receive further necessary non-food item assistance, whilst refocusing MRCS programming towards recovery (to include livelihoods and food security), disaster preparedness and risk reduction activities, in order to mitigate the possible effects of future disasters.

Emergency ShelterObjective 1 (Immediate needs): Meet the immediate shelter needs of the most vulnerable and cyclone-affected people through the

distribution of shelter materials to individual households as well as communities. Procure and distribute household tarpaulin kits (2 tarpaulins and 30m rope) to individual households and

distribute one community tool kit (standard Federation shelter tool kit) to every five households. Target 80,000 households for tarpaulin kits and 275,000 for community tool kits.

Objective 2. (Medium and long-term): Procure and supply appropriate shelter materials to support 10,000 cyclone-affected households who

have suffered severe damage, and have not achieved a reasonable status of recovery. Ensure better understanding and awareness of appropriate building techniques. Integrate with other sectors to support community-based shelter activities such as household water

harvesting and safe haven establishments. All activites to enhance disaster risk reduction.

The initial appeal for emergency shelter planned three phases of support. The objective for the first six months was to procure and distribute emergency shelter kits to 40,000 cyclone-affected households, and pay particular attention to the shelter needs of households from temporary shelters once they had returned to their home sites. For the medium term of six to 12 months, the aim was to procure and supply appropriate shelter materials to support 60,000 households, and also provide technical assistance to identify safe and durable building practices. In the final phase, efforts would be made to identify vulnerable households who had not achieved reasonable recovery.

With the relief activities underway and a deeper understanding of the damage and typical delta housing conditions, the short-term plan was updated (in consultation with the shelter cluster) to target a much larger number of households. The simple nature of construction and the grouping of houses into hamlets, suggested that shelter tool kits could be shared by communities. By procuring extra tarpaulins and combining relief tarpaulins with the shelter kit tarpaulin stock, it became possible to plan to reach 80,000 households with tarpaulin kits and over 275,000 households with community tool kits (on a basis of one tool kit to five households).

Field observations and increasing assessment data has indicated that the majority of rural and urban households assisted by the first phase emergency shelter distributions are moving quite quickly towards effective shelter solutions. There is evidence to suggest that these distributions will support the population whilst they effect longer term recovery as materials such as thatch and personal funds become available.

Concerns remain however for households who suffered such severe damage that they will not be able to recover without more support and the programme plans to provide up to 10,000 households with assistance that may include local building materials such as thatch and bamboo.

The medium and longer-term plan has three goals: To identify the households that have not achieved self-recovery. To provide tecnical support and information dissemination regarding inproved building

techniques. This is to be combined with the identification and support of community-based shelter needs such as household water harvesting in conjunction with water and sanitation or cyclone-safe structures.

56

MYANMAR

Health and CareCommunity Health and Care - overall objective: To reduce the number of deaths, illness and impact from diseases and public health emergencies, and address the psychosocial needs of the population affected by Cyclone Nargis in the 20 most affected townships in the Yangon and Ayeyarwady Divisions (covering up to 100,000 households).

I. Community-based Health and First AidObjective 1. (Immediate needs): Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from disease and public health emergencies by providing immediate basic health care, first aid and psychological support, health and hygiene promotion to the cyclone-affected populations through the MRCS volunteers in collaboration with the MoH.Objective 2. (Medium and long-term): Ensure access to basic health care, first aid and psychosocial support by training community-based first

aid volunteers, putting a referral system in place, in coordination with the MoH, and involving the community in health, hygiene promotion and sanitation activities.

Strengthen the capacity of the MRCS to manage an integrated community-based health and first aid programme which includes water and sanitation, and psychosocial support activities conducted in emergencies and normal situations, in coordination with the MoH.

II. Psychosocial SupportObjective 1 (Immediate needs): Address the immediate psychosocial needs of the population affected by Cyclone Nargis, by providing psychosocial-related relief and by conducting Psychosocial Support Programme training for MRCS volunteers and local key workers in psychosocial support, in collaboration with the MoH, local non-governmental organizations, the United Nations, and international non-governmental organizations.Objective 2 (Medium and long term needs): Address the intermediate needs of the population by ensuring cultural and spiritual support, initiating

drama and creative activities for children in schools, monasteries and the community at large, and by looking into livelihood possibilities for vulnerable groups.

Integrate psychosocial support in MRCS training sessions and community-based programmes, and facilitate livelihood assistance to affected families to enable them to improve their well-being and living conditions.

Community-based health and first aid is a holistic approach to health programming that has basic first aid, disease prevention and health promotion at its core. Building on the network of community- based health volunteers, the MRCS is in a unique position to reach out to communities and to bridge households, villages and authorities. Community-based health as an overarching framework, integrates components of health such as safe water and improved sanitation, prevention and control of common communicable diseases, home care, psychosocial support and voluntary blood recruitment. For this reason, health and care, water and sanitation, and hygiene promotion, are in reality connected and should be coordinated. Community participation at all stages of implementation, from needs assessment till evaluation, is essential to offer relevant and effective support and services to the most vulnerable groups.

Community health and care for 20 townships: The community health and care assistance will focus on 20 affected townships in the Yangon and Ayeyarwady divisions, among these, the thirteen most affected that this appeal concentrates on. These township have been identified through on-site assessments and secondary data reports. The most vulnerable groups of children, women, the elderly, people who are physically and mentally challenged, and/or living with chronic illnesses are the priorities. That health and care covers 20 townships (and not 13 as the other programmes) is due to, among other things, the MRCS community-based first aid work that was conducted in the two divisions before the cyclone. and which will be further supported over the whole delta. The health and care services in these divisions will be extended to the whole delta – this move will also serve as a disaster preparedness and risk reduction measure.

The 20 townships are: Yangon Division : Kungyunggone, Kawhmu, Tontay, Kyauktan, Thanlyin, Dalla, Hlaing Tharyar,

Tharkayta, Dagon Seikkan, Dagon South. Ayeyarwady Division : Labutta, Ngapudaw, Bogaley, Dedaye, Phyarpon, Kyaiklat,

Mawlamyainggyun, *Myaungmya, *Maubin, *Wakema.

*These are least affected townships but have been included here because most the affected populations in Labutta, Bogale and Pyapon moved to these townships for shelter during the disaster.

The health care intervention for these 20 townships involves three main components that will be implemented through a holistic approach: (a) community health and first aid, (b) water and sanitation, and (c) psychosocial support. This intervention will be coordinated and planned with the shelter, relief

57

MYANMAR

and logistics sectors. The International Federation’s health team together with MRCS health counterparts, has prepared the detailed plan of action with identified activities, based on the reports from the MRCS field assessment teams in affected areas.

Human resources: MRCS volunteers trained in community health and first aid prior to Cyclone Nargis, were deployed immediately to respond to the health, first aid and psychosocial support needs of the population affected by the disaster. Volunteer-based support for health, first aid, psychosocial support and water and sanitation in local branches will be built up through training at the community level. Community participation in health and care activities is essential to the programme. Advocacy with local authorities and coordination with the local health system will also be strengthened.

Additional health human resource will be supported both at the headquarters and the branch levels, to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the proposed activities in different phases. The long-term aim is to build the MRCS’ capacity in effectively managing an integrated approach towards health services. Community-based first aid programming will be a starting point in this approach which will include expanded water and sanitation, and psychosocial support efforts. Appropriate exist strategies will be included in the plan for the proper inter-phasing of the operational activities into the MRCS’ regular health and care programme activities.

Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion

Objective 1: To ensure that the immediate risks of waterborne and water-related diseases have been reduced through the most essential provision of safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene promotion and education to 100,000 households. Objective 2: To ensure that the long-term risk of waterborne and water-related diseases has been reduced through sustainable access to safe water and adequate sanitation as well as the provision of hygiene education to 75,000 households.12

A community-based recovery and rehabilitation approach is planned to support identified villages in affected areas in the Yangon and Ayeyarwady divisions. These approaches will be coordinated closely with the health and care programme, and where necessary, with other sectors such as shelter. Where possible, livelihoods as well as disaster preparedness and risk reduction will be taken into account and incorporated into the planning. The teams will engage with communities to identify and plan for the rehabilitation of existing drinking water sources including rainwater harvesting ponds, roof top rainwater harvesting structures and shallow wells, all of which are the main drinking water sources used in the affected area.

The cyclone impacted greatly on traditional water sources, where sea water contaminated rainwater harvesting ponds and ground water wells. It is estimated that in the affected area, more than 80 per cent of these structures have been contaminated.

Assessments in the villages are planned and some have already been conducted by MRCS staff and volunteers, as well as locally qualified engineers to identify the needs of the community in rehabilitating their water harvesting structures. Based on these assessments, clear needs will be identified and consequently, necessary support will be planned to assist the community in its recovery. Support activities will include providing pumps, fuel and other items for the rehabilitation of ponds, and the rebuilding of rainwater harvesting tanks and household systems. These activities are planned in consideration of the monsoon season which runs between June and September, and traditionally provides the major portion of safe drinking water for the affected communities every yearl. The second phase of the plan will focus mainly on the repair and possible construction of community and household roof top rainwater harvesting structures.

In support of the provision of reliable potable water sources and in conjunction with disease prevention, community-based sanitation activities will be undertaken to support the poorest and most vulnerable households by providing training and materials for the construction of appropriate high water table latrines. These activities will also include awareness campaigns on the safe disposal of excreta. The strategy is to reach maximum number of people in the affected area by demonstrations and training conducted by local MRCS staff and volunteers who will also train community members at village tract level. The recovery phase will also involve the promotion of hygiene in schools and health centres – accordingly, latrines will be built in these institutions.

12 The initial phase of relief focused on reaching 100,000 beneficiaries, irrespective of their level of ‘affectedness’. The second phase of relief will focus on the most vulnerable portion of this group of people, and this amounts to 75,000 beneficiaries.

58

MYANMAR

The development of safe water and sanitation systems will be complemented by the development of a water quality monitoring system at township and village tract levels, in coordination with the heath sector.

Through the promotion of an integrated approach as described earlier in this appeal, the water and sanitation sector of the operation will work closely with the health sector in the area of hygiene promotion, as well as the shelter sector in relation to roof top rain water harvesting. The water and sanitation- related community health activities will be managed by the health staff in coordination with the local MRCS health officers stationed in each cyclone hub and water and sanitation staff. The MRCS health officers will be trained in the participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) methodology to promote heath and hygiene awareness, in relation to water and sanitation. The teams will conduct training, awareness and promotional campaigns. and also monitor the health and hygiene behaviour of the community, in respect to water and sanitation practices.

In conjunction with the implementation of the above identified activities, there will also be a focus on developing the capacity of MRCS staff and volunteers in the technical and social (hard and soft) aspect of water and sanitation. This is based on the request of the MRCS to develop long-term emergency preparedness and capacity within this area. In support of this, activities will be linked to existing MRCS health and disaster management programming. In total, a team of 50 MRCS staff and volunteers will be trained in the installation of emergency water and sanitation facilities including emergency water purification units (ERUs).

Food security and livelihoods:Objective (Medium and long-term): Provide support for: Individual families to re-establish agriculture, fishing and family gardens. Small family industries and cottage industries. Community transport needs as required. The establishment of community work areas. Environmental projects including forestry. Engagement in works to community infrastructure such as safe havens.

The delta economy has for years faced declining productivity with pressure on natural ecosystems, as decreasing marginal returns on agricultural inputs continually erodes household wealth. Added to this, within the current situation after Cyclone Nargis, both formal and informal reports from the delta area increasingly indicate that households are very concerned about livelihoods and food security. The activities contained within the livelihoods sector will therefore focus on a long-term approach to support the identified communities recover incrementally, towards sustainable and enhanced living conditions.

The programmes will be based on more detailed assessment data gathered by the MRCS. Whilst detailed information including that from the Post Nargis Joint Assessment is still awaited at the time of writing this appeal, information from the MRCS and the International Federation’s field teams as well as the early recovery and emergency shelter clusters indicate that many household livelihoods have been heavily affected by the cyclone, particularly in the areas of agriculture and fishery. Damage from salt water intrusion into paddy fields, loss of seed through water damage, loss of tools, machines or animals, and labour shortages due to death and injury, and pyschosocial injury, means that for many households, the future is deeply uncertain and precarious. In the face of these extreme difficulties many households are still attempting to plant their annual crop to ensure thier survival. This said though, many families will simply not be able to produce a rice crop this year, especially since July is the main planting season.

The loss of boats, nets and fish farming areas has further undermined essential food production resources. Food production is also the fundamental source of income production, and until this is back on track, families will face livelihood struggles.

Activities are already being undertaken by the local authorities, non-governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies to support some affected communities by providing productive animals such as buffalos, as well as hand tractors and salt-resistant rice. With these activities ongoing, and considering the approach to be taken within the health, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness and risk reduction objectives, it is proposed that livelihood support is provided in the short and the long-term, by engaging and working with communities to identify their needs for recovery and implement appropriate solutions.

59

MYANMAR

Livelihood recovery packages: to support livelihood recovery, a number of packages are being developed to support individual households to restore and further develop their livelihoods. The first of these packages include rice farming - in particular, support for a summer rice crop in

the dry season towards the end of the year. The second package focuses on family livelihood/support, with a particular emphasis on women

who will be provided with seeds for vegetables, hand tools, poultry, and materials for small-scale fishing.

As fishing is a vital activity in the delta, the third livelihood package will support the purchase of small local fishing boats and river fishing nets. These boats have no motors.

A fourth package is aimed at developing and encouraging small-scale industry, with an emphasis on boat building and other wooden manufacturing. It will include tools, timber, other materials and fixings.

Another livelihood package will be aimed at encouraging cottage industries such as the production of thatch panels, bamboo furniture, cane goods and sewn fabrics.

There will also be an opportunity to provide livelihood opportunities through work in other sector activities - for example, in the water and sanitation sector, pond cleaning work opportunities will be available.

Support packages are also being designed or developed at the community level. Many communities have transportation difficulties to get to markets, sources of raw materials, and access to health services such as clinics. To assist as required, the appeal proposes the possible purchase of boats with suitable diesel motors and the supply of fuel for up to three months.

In the area of sustainability, there is an identified need to secure materials for the planting of trees and other species for the production of firewood, furniture and house construction materials, in future. To support this, the programme will provide technical advice, plants, seeds, and food support to planting teams.

Additionally, as the proposed cottage and small-scale industries require appropriate dry work areas, the livelihoods programme will provide grants to communities to construct community work areas.

Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

Objective (Medium and long-term): Vulnerability of targeted communities is reduced through mitigation measures and an enhanced capacity to prepare for and respond to future disasters.

With the effects of Cyclone Nargis ever present, there is a unique opportunity to address the reoccurring hazard risk within the affected areas and other hazard-prone areas of Myanmar. The focus on promoting disaster risk reduction is born from the International Federation’s experiences in disaster response, recovery and preparedness activities, where it is acknowledged that preparing for and coping with disasters is not enough in terms of reducing risk and building safer communities. This is further reinforced in the International Federation’s commitment to doubling the current investment in disaster risk reduction by the end of 2010, and to work towards allocating at least 20 per cent of the funds raised through each emergency appeal, to disaster risk reduction actions.

In the area of disaster risk reduction, existing community buildings will be identified as potential safe havens. The programme will provide technical advice on how to strengthen these buildings against flooding and the community will be provided with a grant to undertake the works. The proposed programme/component will be implemented in coordination with the ongoing community disaster preparedness programmes of the MRCS and will take advantage of the resources and expertise within these programmes.

This component aims to improve the capacity of the national society and affected communities to prepare for and respond to future disasters. The component consists of three focus areas: Community-based disaster preparedness; Education and Awareness; and National Society capacity development.

60

MYANMAR

How we workAll International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

The International Federation’s activities are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals: Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from

disasters. Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from

diseases and public health emergencies. Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red

Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Contact information For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

Federation regional office in Bangkok: Alan Bradbury, acting head of regional office,phone: +66 2661 8201fax: +66 2661 9322email: alan.bradbury@ifrc.org

Federation zone office in Kuala Lumpur:Jagan Chapagain, deputy head of zone office, phone: +6012 215 3765email: jagan.chapagain@ifrc.org

Amy Gaver, acting head of disaster management unit, phone: +6012 220 1174email: amy.gaver@ifrc.org

For pledges of funding:Penny Elghady, resource mobilisation and PMER coordinator,phone: +6012 230 8634email: penny.elghady@ifrc.org

For mobilisation of relief items:Jeremy Francis, regional logistics coordinator,phone: +6012 298 9752fax: +603 2168 8573email: jeremy.francis@ifrc.org

For media/communications: Jason SmithFederation secretariat in Geneva: Christine South, operations coordinator Asia Pacific,phone: +41 22 730 4529mobile: +41 79 308 9824email: christine.south@ifrc.org

61

MYANMAR

ANNEX II.

THEMATIC MAPS

62

MYANMAR

63

MYANMAR

64

MYANMAR

EXAMPLE OF SEASONAL ACTIVITIES IN AGRICULTURE - CALENDAR FOR KAUNGIYDAUNT TOWN SHIP (DELTA), MYANMAR

Activities AprilMay

June July August September October November December January February March

Rainy Season

Rainfed Paddy

Irrigated Paddy

Mung Beans

Cow Pea Planting

Ground Nut Planting

Flood

Pest

Rice/Paddy Prices

Mung Bean Prices Highest Prices Mung Beans

Chili Planting

Vegetables Increased Availability

Fishing

Hunting (Wild Food)

Wild Food

Casual Labour Labour

Harvesting

Small Rains Heavy Rains Small Rains

Harvesting

Land Preparation & Planting Harvesting

Harvesting

Harvesting

Harvesting

Planting

Planting Harvesting

Floods

Pest

Rice Paddy Prices High Rice/Paddy Prices Low

Lowest Prices Mung Beans

Fishing

Frogs & Land Crab Land Crab

Peak Labour Labour

Harvesting

Harvesting

Water CloverWater Cress

65

MYANMAR

Migratory Labour

Education

Festivals

Illness (Human)

Disease Disease

Loan for Agriculture

Loan for Landless Labourers & Poor

Advance payment for Casual Labour Advance Payment Advance Payment

Hungry Season Peak Poor Poor & Middle Peak

Source: Save the Children

Loan Taking

Migratory Labour

Repayment

Peak Loan Taking Loan RepaymentLoan Repayment Loan Repayment

66

MYANMAR

67

MYANMAR

68

MYANMAR

69

MYANMAR

70

MYANMAR

71

MYANMAR

72

MYANMAR

73

MYANMAR

ANNEX III.

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONSACF Action Contre la FaimACTED Agency for Technical Cooperation and DevelopmentADRA Adventist Development and Relief AgencyAGHB Hepatitis B AntigenAIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeAMDA Association of Medical Doctors of AsiaAMI Aide Médicale InternationalAMURT Ananda Marga Universal Relief TeamART Antiretroviral TherapyASEAN Association of Southeast Asian NationsAXFB Association Francois-Xavier BagnoudAZG Artsen zonder Grenzen

BCC Behaviour Change CommunicationsBMS Breast Milk Substitutes

CAG Community Based Action GroupsCBCM Catholic Bishop Conference of MyanmarCBO Community-Based OrganisationCESVI Cooperazione e SviluppoCFS Child-Friendly SpacesCLDRR Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction

DaLA Damage and Loss AssessmentDEPT Department of Educational Planning and DevelopmentDFID Department for International DevelopmentDRR Disaster Risk Reduction

ECCD Early Child Care and DevelopmentEMDH Enfants du Monde – Droits de l’HommeEMHU Emergency Mental Health UnitEmOC Emergency Obstetric CareEMOP Emergency OperationsEWAR Early Warning and Response system

FAO Food and Agriculture OrganizationFBO Faith Based OrganisationFFW Food-For-WorkFORM Friend of Rainforests in Myanmar

GAA German Agro ActionGBV Gender-Based ViolenceGoUM Government of the Union of MyanmarGRET Groupe d'échange et de recherche technologiques

HC/RC Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident CoordinatorHCV Hepatitis CHIC Humanitarian Information CentreHIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

IASC Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeICDP Integrated Community Development ProjectICRC International Committee of the Red CrossIDMC Internal Displacement Monitoring CentreIDE International Development EnterprisesIDP Internally Displaced PersonIEC Information, Education and CommunicationIFE Infants and Young Child Feedings in EmergenciesIFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesIMC International Medical CorpsIOM International Organization for MigrationITNs Insecticide-treated Mosquito NetsIYCF Infant and Young Child Feeding

74

MYANMAR

KMSS Karuna Myanmar Social ServicesLBVD Livestock Breeding and Veterinary DepartmentLLINS Long-Lasting Insecticidal-Treated NetsLNGO Local Non-Governmental Organization

MAS Myanmar Agricultural ServicesMCC Myanmar Council of ChurchesMCH Mother and Child healthMDM Médecins du MondeMIMU Myanmar Information Management UnitMoH Ministry of HealthMoFA Ministry of Foreign AffairsMOSS Minimum Operating Security StandardsMNMA Myanmar Nurse and Midwife AssociationMRCS Myanmar Red Cross SocietyMSF Médecins Sans FrontièresMSI Marie Stopes InternationalMT Metric Tonnes

NFE Non-Formal EducationNFI Non-Food ItemsNGO Non-Governmental OrganisationNFPE Non-Formal Primary EducationNPA Norwegian People's AidNYWCA National Young Women’s Christian Association

OCHA/LSU Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs / Logistics Support UnitORS Oral Rehydration Solution

PACT Programme for Accountability and TransparencyPIN People in NeedPLHIV People Living with HIVPSI Population Services InternationalPoNJA Post-Nargis Joint Assessment

RC/HCO Office of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian CoordinatorRCT Response Coordination TeamRHC Rural Health Centres

SAG Strategic Advisory GroupSASOP ASEAN Standby Arrangement and Standard Operating ProceduresSC Save the ChildrenSGBV Sexual and Gender-Based ViolenceSOP Standard Operating ProceduresSQH Sun Quality HealthSRH/C Sub-Rural Health CentresSTI Sexually Transmitted Infection

TB TuberculosisTCG Tripartite Core GroupTGH Triangle GHTWG Technical Working Group

UNCT United Nations Country TeamUNDAC United Nations Disaster Assessment and CoordinationUNDSS United Nations Department of Safety and SecurityUNDP United Nations Development ProgrammeUNFPA United Nations Population FundUNIAP United Nations Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-

RegionUNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund

VTA Village Tract AssessmentVRC Village Rehabilitation CommitteesVRP Village Rehabilitation Project

WASH Water, Sanitation and HygieneWFP World Food ProgrammeWHH WelthungerhilfeWHO World Health Organization

75

MYANMAR

WSPA World Society for the Protection of AnimalsWV World Vision

YCDC Yangon City Development CommitteeYKBWA Yangon Kayin Baptist Women’s Association

76

Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)

The CAP is a tool for aid organisations to jointly plan, coordinate, implement and monitor their response to disasters and emergencies, and to appeal for funds together instead of competitively.

It is the forum for developing a strategic approach to humanitarian action, focusing on close cooperation between host governments, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and United Nations agencies. As such, it presents a snapshot of the situation and response plans, and is an inclusive and coordinated programme cycle of:

Strategic planning leading to a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP); Resource mobilisation leading to a Consolidated Appeal or a Flash Appeal; Coordinated programme implementation; Joint monitoring and evaluation; Revision, if necessary; Reporting on results.

The CHAP is the core of the CAP – a strategic plan for humanitarian response in a given country or region, including the following elements:

A common analysis of the context in which humanitarian action takes place; An assessment of needs; Best, worst, and most likely scenarios; A clear statement of longer-term objectives and goals; Prioritised response plans, including a detailed mapping of projects to cover all needs; A framework for monitoring the strategy and revising it if necessary.

The CHAP is the core of a Consolidated Appeal or, when crises break out or natural disasters strike, a Flash Appeal. Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator, and in consultation with host Governments and donors, the CHAP is developed at the field level by the Humanitarian Country Team. This team includes IASC members and standing invitees (UN agencies, the International Organisation for Migration, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and NGOs that belong to ICVA, Interaction, or SCHR), but non-IASC members, such as national NGOs, can also be included.

The Humanitarian Coordinator is responsible for the annual preparation of the consolidated appeal document. The document is launched globally near the end of each year to enhance advocacy and resource mobilisation. An update, known as the Mid-Year Review, is presented to donors the following July.

Donors generally fund appealing agencies directly in response to project proposals listed in appeals. The Financial Tracking Service (FTS), managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is a database of appeal funding needs and worldwide donor contributions, and can be found on www.reliefweb.int/fts.

In sum, the CAP is how aid agencies join forces to provide people in need the best available protection and assistance, on time.

OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS(OCHA)

UNITED NATIONS PALAIS DES NATIONSNEW YORK, NY 10017 1211 GENEVA 10

USA SWITZERLAND