THE tripartite working group overseeing post-Nargis relief operations in the Ayeyarwady delta warned last week that more assistance was needed to help the victims of the disaster, five months after the storm wreaked havoc on lower Myanmar.

A statement issued by the working group on Tuesday said group – formed in late May and including representatives from the Myanmar government, ASEAN and the UN – has helped in the delivery of more than 33,000 tonnes of food to 733,000 people affected by the cyclone.

But the statement went on to say that “the needs of the cyclone Nargis victims are still great, and increased and committed financial support is necessary in order to continue assistance to the cyclone survivors”.

It said scarcity of water was a major concern in the delta region.

“There are concerns of possible water scarcity in the coming dry season because of increased salinity of pond water due to the cyclone and the far-below-average rainfall,” the statement said.

“There also is a need for durable and sustainable shelter that is able to withstand the weather conditions that the cyclone-affected areas are prone to.”
Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu, who heads the working group, said the government was committed to allowing the group’s relief operations to continue as long as they were needed.

“Solid efforts have been done. The government of Myanmar appreciates the support by the international community and welcomes continued operations,” U Kyaw Thu was quoted as saying in the statement.

UN Resident Coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli, who heads the working group’s UN contingent, called on donors not to forget the plight of cyclone survivors.
“People and communities have been severely affected. It will take a long time until their needs are met,” Mr Parajuli was quoted as saying in the statement.

The UN has issued an appeal for US$482 million for relief operations, and $240 million (52 percent) of the appeal money has been received so far, the statement said, adding that the tripartite group will issue an update on the humani-tarian needs of cyclone victims when it conducts a new needs assessment next month.

A similar survey was conducted by the group in June, the results of which were published a month later and indicated the need for at least $1 billion for relief and reconstruction of the Ayeyarwady delta over a period of three years.

The government has indicated that the tripartite working group will be permitted to operate until next April.