_|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] HIGHLIGHTS - HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATEWHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int
Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 10 - 16 May 2008

1. According to information from the Myanmar state media, the death toll from Cyclone Nargis is now 77 738 with 19 359 injured. Another 55 917 people are still reported missing.

2. Five out of six station hospitals in Ngaputaw township are reported to have been destroyed. The township hospital is however functional. Referral cases are being sent to Pathein township's hospital.

3. There are adequate stocks in the country to deal with potential outbreaks of severe diarrhoea.

? According to information from the Myanmar state media, the death toll from Cyclone Nargis is now 77 738 with 19 359 injured. Another 55 917 people are still reported missing.

? Five out of six station hospitals in Ngaputaw township are reported to have been destroyed. The township hospital is however functional. Referral cases are being sent to Pathein township's hospital.

? There has been no confirmed disease outbreaks but cases of diarrhoea have been reported. Disease surveillance is being further strengthened . Putting prevention and control measures in place remains a priority.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? There are adequate stocks in the country to deal with potential outbreaks of severe diarrhoea. The WHO and UNICEF stocks include 30,000 i/v fluid drip packs, 50,000 ORS sachets, and 500,000 doxycycline tablets (with equal numbers in reserve). Additional supplies for the treatment of severe diarrhoea as well as water purification tablets are on their way.

? WHO delivered one Emergency Health kit to the hospital in Maubin, which is acting as referral hospital for Pyanpon, Bogale, Kyaiklat and Dedaye.

? In response to the request of the Regional Surveillance Officer in Pathein, WHO is sending additional supplies for the management of diarrhoeal diseases.

? Thirty basic units of Interagency Emergency Health Kits and other medical supplies procured by UNICEF, including ORS and zinc, have arrived to Yangon. They are sufficient for the treatment of more than 80,000 cases of diarrhoea.

? An additional 125 fogging machines have arrived in Myanmar.

? Supplies of viper anti-venom are now available. Cases of snakebite have been reported in Shwepyithar township of Yangon division.

2. Medical Care
? UNICEF deployed five additional public health experts to Myaung Mya, Maubin, Wakema, Pyapon and Mawlamyinegyu, bringing the total to 11 in seven townships in Ayawadee. They will facilitate health sector coordination at the field level, provide technical support, supply medicines and assist field monitoring and emergency response.

? Seven public health doctors from UNICEF have been visiting Hlaing Thayar,Dala, Kyaun Tan, Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Kayan/Thongwa, and Kee Myint Taing everyday since a day after the cyclone to assess the health situation and identify needs as well as monitor the response.

? The WHO guidelines on the management of cholera were distributed to Health Cluster partners. NGOs are encouraged to contact WHO and UNICEF if more copies are needed.

? MSF-Holland is providing relief services in Ngaputaw and Labutta townships; 25 medical teams and 200 staff, including 28 medical doctors, were redeployed. Twelve boats are available to move medical teams southwards into the most affected coastal areas. MSF-Holland also confirmed that no disease outbreaks have yet been detected in these areas. The main health concerns reported are injuries, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

3. Surveillance
? Disease surveillance has been further intensified, particularly for diarrhoea, cholera, measles, dengue haemorrhagic fever and malaria.

? Streamlined surveillance and data reporting forms are being distributed to partners, hospitals and health centres. They will facilitate the uniform collection, compilation and analysis of the available information on selected diseases including diarrhoea, malaria, dengue and snake bites.

? Surveillance officers at the township level are working to enhance the transmission and sharing of information.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? Participation in the Health Cluster meetings in Myanmar has increased, with more than 60 representatives of 30 international NGOs and UN agencies.

? A Civil Society Information Resource Centre was opened on 15 May for local self-help groups at the initiative of INGO Forum.

? WHO and UNFPA are addressing reproductive health and maternal health needs and looking into ways to fill the urgent need for basic reproductive health kits.

? Further steps have been initiated to increase coordination between clusters; Health Cluster national staff members are receiving updated information from the Water and Sanitation and Shelter clusters, among others.

? NEXT STEPS
? A joint action plan and charting out of activities for the Health Cluster for the next 3 to 6 months is being finalized.

? WHO continues to mobilize the donor community to provide stronger support to the health sector emergency response.

? Psychosocial support is likely to be an important issue in the next few weeks, and WHO guidelines and protocols in the local language have been sent to Myanmar.
-
-----

[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

France angered by Burmese delays

France's ambassador to the UN has accused Burma's government of being on the verge of committing a crime against humanity by not accepting foreign aid.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7405998.stm

Jean-Maurice Ripert made the comment during a General Assembly session, after Burma's UN ambassador accused France of sending a warship to region.

France says the ship is carrying 1,500 tonnes of food and medicine for survivors of Cyclone Nargis.


State TV has put the official death toll of the 2 May storm at 78,000.

<!-- E SF -->
Another 56,000 people are thought to be missing according to the latest official estimates, which nearly double the figures released on Thursday, raising fears the final human toll may be enormous.


UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said a natural disaster has been turned into a man-made catastrophe because of the negligence of the Burmese generals.

"The responsibility lies with the Burmese regime, and they must be held accountable," Mr Brown told the BBC.

Refusing aid by sea

Mr Ripert angrily rejected Burmese allegations the French ship in international waters off Burma's coast was a warship.
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<!-- END - companion banner include --> <!-- caption -->People wait for help in the worst-hit Irrawaddy Delta
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The French UN ambassador warned that the Burmese government's refusal to allow aid to be delivered to those who needed it "could lead to a true crime against humanity".


"Hundreds of thousands of lives are in jeopardy and we think that the primary responsibility of the government of Myanmar (Burma) is to help and open the borders so that the international aid could come into the place," he said.


A US naval task force is also waiting off the Burmese coast for permission to deliver large consignments of aid, including drinking water, but so far the Burmese military government has refused relief aid arriving by sea.

Foreign aid agencies, too, are frustrated at the slow progress of aid to areas worst hit, especially in the Irrawaddy Delta.


However, a team of 50 Indian medical personnel is being flown into Rangoon on Saturday, equipped with medical supplies.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder says the government is making an exception to its reluctance to accept foreign aid, because India has close ties to the Burmese junta.


Heavy rain

A BBC reporter in the delta this week saw little sign of official help and foreign aid workers have been barred from the area.


Natalia Antelava saw muddy river banks lined with white, swollen bodies, and found survivors with barely enough rice to live on.


The Red Cross is seeking more than $50m (?26m) in aid to help survivors of the storm which struck on 2-3 May.


<!-- S IBOX -->
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="231"> <tbody><tr> <td width="5"></td> <td class="sibtbg"> EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION



<!-- S ILIN -->See map and satellite images
<!-- E ILIN --><!-- S ILIN -->Send us your comments
<!-- E ILIN -->
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IBOX --> Heavy rain has been lashing the region, compounding the misery of cyclone survivors.


The UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator, John Holmes, is due to visit Rangoon, Burma's main city, on Sunday in a bid to persuade the military government to grant more access to UN relief workers and expand its aid effort.

Earlier, the EU's top aid official, Louis Michel, was denied permission to visit the delta region. He said he was given no explanation why disaster emergency experts were being refused visas.

But Burma's authorities have promised to take foreign diplomats on a tour of the region this weekend, although it is not clear how much access the group will have to areas outside the official tour route.

'Beggars for miles'

Burma blamed its sudden increase in the estimated death toll on difficulties in confirming the extent of damage in the worst-affected areas.


<!-- S IBOX -->
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="231"> <tbody><tr> <td width="5"></td> <td class="sibtbg"> Every possible pressure must be used to get them to understand that they must help us help them


Lois Michel
EU aid official



<!-- S ILIN -->Eyewitness: Barred from Burma
<!-- E ILIN -->
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IBOX --> The difficulty in getting accurate figures is inevitable bearing in mind the scarce resources there are on the ground to assess the needs of survivors, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Bangkok.


A Reuters team travelling to Kunyangon, around 100km (60 miles) south-west of Rangoon, found rows of beggars stretching for miles on either side of a road.


Men, women and children stood in the mud and rain, hands clasped together in supplication at the occasional passing aid vehicle.


Many relief workers are awaiting visas and most of those who have been allowed into the country remain confined to Rangoon.


'Time is life'

Speaking in Bangkok after his visit to Burma, the EU's Louis Michel said the world needed to impress upon Burma's rulers the urgency of survivors' needs.

<!-- S IIMA -->
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td> Further hardship awaits survivors whose crops have been destroyed

</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IIMA --> "Time is life," he said.


"Every possible pressure - all rhetorical and diplomatic means - must be used to get them to understand that they must help us help them."

At this stage it is not clear who he will be able to talk to given that Burma's leader, Thein Sein, has refused to answer calls from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.



In the last few days, Burma has agreed to allow a few experts from neighbouring countries in to help.


While this may not be as many as the international community thinks are needed, UN officials believe this is an opportunity to show the military government that aid-workers' motives are humanitarian, not political.

According to the Red Cross, aid agencies have been able to reach less than a third of cyclone victims and hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of diseases such as dysentery because of lack of clean water.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) is due to hold a high-level meeting in the coming days that is expected to lay the framework for a broader aid donors' conference.

Burma's military leadership, meanwhile, has warned that those who hoard or sell aid on the black market will be prosecuted, amid international reports of misuse of some aid shipments.

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] Health Cluster Situation Report No. 11 - 17 May 2008

WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS
HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE


1. Medical supplies such as emergency health kits and water and sanitation equipment continue to be the priority public health requirements for the cyclone-affected population.
WHO and partner health agencies are bringing these supplies inside the country to supplement the efforts of the Myanmar health authorities.

2. Fogging machines are being used extensively in spraying the temporary shelters in some affected townships in an effort to prevent and control the spread of vector-borne diseases.

3. Disease surveillance efforts have been further strengthened and revitalized to increase the pace of information flow and establish that daily reporting is in place.

? According to information available from the Myanmar state media, the death toll from Cyclone Nargis has risen now to 77 738 and 19 359 injured. Another 55 917 people are still reported missing.

? In Ngaputaw township
o The most common conditions reported after the cyclone are injuries, followed by acute respiratory infections (ARIs), gastroenteritis, dysentery and malaria. Before the cyclone, the most common diseases were malaria, gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infections, dysentery and tuberculosis.

o Forty six per cent of the population in the township was affected by the cyclone and forty nine per cent of houses suffered some damage.

o Key health equipment such as X-ray machines and medical stores were lost in the damaged health centers and hospitals, and there is a need for medical supplies.

o Township health and local authorities in Ngaputaw have also alerted the local population on larvae control to prevent and control dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF).

? Sixteen temporary shelters were opened near affected areas in Ngaputaw township and four in Pathein.

? Fogging machines have been used by government authorities to spray temporary shelters in some affected areas in an effort to prevent and control the spread of vector-borne diseases.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? The health authorities have requested the health cluster group to provide medical supplies such as basic antibiotics, Oral Rehydration Salts, normal saline, dextrose saline, bandages, gauze, plaster and syringes.

? MSF reported that they have flown in four cargo planes with emergency items including water and sanitation equipment, medical supplies, therapeutic food and other relief supplies.

? One of the Health Cluster partners has reported the availability of eleven interagency emergency health kits. Each kit has supplies for 10 000 people for three months.

? WHO has kept the following medical supplies in stock to meet the future emergency health needs.

o Thirty thousand ringer lactate solutions

o Fifty thousand doxycycline tablets.

2. Medical Care
? More than 250 Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff in Myanmar are working in 20 different locations.

? Health cluster partners will also focus on screening for malnutrition.

3. Surveillance
? Disease surveillance has been further intensified, particularly for diarrhoea, cholera, measles, dengue haemorrhagic fever and malaria.

? Disease cases are being reported on a daily basis in response to the Health cluster partners? need for a more rapid flow of information.

? WHO as health cluster lead will verify any rumors of disease outbreaks in collaboration with the agency from which the report originated.

? HEALTH COORDINATION

? The health cluster has established three operations centres in the townships of Pathein, Labutta and Bogale.

? The Humanitarian Information Centre web site for Myanmar has been established.

? NEXT STEPS
? A joint action plan and charting of activities for the Health Cluster for the next 3 to 6 months is being finalized.

? WHO continues to mobilize the donor community to provide stronger support to the health sector emergency response. Australia donated 2.4 million Australian dollars and DFID will increase its contribution US$ 493 000. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the following weeks as assessments bring in more clear information on needs.

? Psychosocial support is likely to be an important issue in the next few weeks, and WHO guidelines and protocols in the local language have been sent to Myanmar.
-
------

[Sunshine123]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

Burma Prepares for Second Storm

http://earthchangesmedia.com/

A second storm is heading towards Burma's devastated Irrawaddy delta region. Even as it gathered strength the UN warned that so little aid has reached the two million survivors of the last deadly cyclone there could be a second wave of deaths from disease and starvation.
May 16, 2008 - 6:05:28 AM

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 12 - 18 May 2008

WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS

*HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE
1. The priority is to bring to the affected population what they need, and health is high in the list.
As of today, the Health Cluster has made available more than 350 metric tonnes of medical supplies and equipment for the cyclone-affected areas.
These include three million water purification sachets, 90 000 water containers, more than 50 000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets, shelter equipment, emergency health kits and essential medicines as requested by the national and local health authorities.

2. The Myanmar health authorities are striving to provide daily reports on disease cases from the affected townships. These are being shared by the Divisional Health Director office with the Central Epidemiological Unit (CEU).

3. UNAIDS reports that in spite of the cyclone, all anti-retroviral therapy (ART) services are functioning and providing the necessary services to the HIV-positive community in the affected areas. Most service points delivering ART are taking special measures to track and assess patients' needs and drug supplies.

? The latest report from Myanmar state media inform that the numbers of those dead or missing after Cyclone Nargis have exceeded 132 000.

? The Health Cluster is supporting, with medical supplies, 200 extended first-aid posts run by doctors from the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Myanmar Red Cross volunteers in the cyclone-affected areas.

? Heavy rains continue to affect conditions for road transport of supplies, including medical supplies.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? The Health Cluster has procured more than 350 metric tonnes of medical supplies and equipment for the cyclone-affected regions of Myanmar to date.
These include three million water purification sachets, 90 000 water containers, more than 50 000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets, shelter equipment, emergency health kits and essential medicines requested by the national and local health authorities.

? The health partners are supplying 80 basic health units to the health centres in rural areas. This is in addition to the basic malaria treatment module which is also being supplied.

? In two days, IFRC will start operating a water and sanitation unit for 40 000 people.

? UNICEF has received 30 emergency health kits and therapeutic food.

2. Medical Care
? According to UNAIDS, all ART services are functioning and providing the necessary services to the HIV-positive community in the affected areas.
Most service points delivering ART are taking special measures to track and assess patients' needs and drug supplies.
The Myanmar Positive Group in collaboration with local community organizations such as Phoenix group and with support from HIV/AIDS Alliance and UNDP and other organizations working with self-help groups such as AFXB are tracking all their members and organizing to ensure that relief supplies, including shelter rehabilitation, are being provided.

? Currently all WHO Myanmar Regional Surveillance Officers have been deputed for relief operations and health care in most affected townships.

? IFRC has mobilized four basic health clinics (emergency response units).

? UNICEF and other INGOS are working with the Ministry of Health to finalize distribution plans for therapeutic feeding supplies for three hospitals in the affected areas that have trained paediatricians.

? Some NGOs are planning to undertake a rapid assessment of the nutritional status of the people in the cyclone-affected areas and prepare draft plans for management of acute malnutrition.

? WHO, UNICEF and IFRC are preparing a statement on appropriate child feeding in emergencies as concern has been expressed about rumours of distribution of breast milk substitutes in the cyclone-affected areas.

3. Surveillance
? The Myanmar health authorities are providing daily reports on disease cases from the affected townships. These are being provided from Divisional Health Director office to Central Epidemiological Unit (CEU). The Health Cluster has requested the Ministry of Health to share these reports on a daily basis.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? The health cluster has established three operations centres in the townships of Pathein, Labutta and Bogale.

? The Humanitarian Information Centre web site for Myanmar has been established.

? NEXT STEPS
? A joint action plan and charting of activities for the Health Cluster for the next 3 to 6 months is being finalized.

? WHO continues to advocate with the donors to mobilize stronger support for the health sector. Australia donated 2.4 million Australian dollars and DFID will increase its contribution US$ 493 000. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the following weeks as assessments bring in more clear information on needs.

? Psychosocial support is likely to be an important issue in the next few weeks, and WHO guidelines and protocols in the local language have been sent to Myanmar.
-
------

[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

Burma to allow relief workers into the country

Published: Monday 19 May 2008 11:17 UTC
Last updated: Monday 19 May 2008 11:17 UTC

Burma has promised at an emergency meeting in Singapore of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, to allow relief workers into the country.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo says ASEAN will help coordinate the flow of supplies to the victims of Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma on 2 May.

Until now, Burma has only permitted the entry of a limited number of supplies.

A French ship has been waiting in the Irrawaddy Delta, the region devastated by the cyclone, for permission to unload its cargo. The ship is carrying enough food to feed 100,000 people for two weeks and tents which can shelter 60,000 people. The Burmese government has refused to let the ship dock on its soil.

The death toll stands at 78,000; around 56,000 people are still missing.


The United Nations World Health Organisation says that 70 percent of the cyclone's victims have not yet received food supplies. An estimated 750,000 people urgently need of food.

http://www.radionetherlands.nl

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 13 - 19 May 2008

WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS
*HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE
1. Key hospitals are functioning. However, outlying areas are difficult to reach. The Ministry of health is trying to expand coverage by sending health assistants and midwives to health centres and healthcare delivery points.

2. Reports from Health Cluster partners call for psychosocial support to the affected people. WHO guidelines for mental health in emergencies have already been translated into the local language. However the local human capacity to respond to this need are limited.

3. The latest report from the state media inform that the death toll is 77 738, with another 55 917 missing, and 19 359 injured. The United Nations? latest estimate is that 2.4 million people are affected, many of them severely and that 150 000 people are living in 120 temporary settlements in the Irrawoady delta.

? The latest report from the state media inform that the death toll is 77 738, with another 55 917 missing, and 19 359 injured. State media also report that Myanmar has spent over 50 billion kyats in relief and rehabilitation efforts so far.

? The UN estimates that 2.4 million people are affected. Initial UN estimates also indicate that there are 150 000 people living in 120 temporary settlements in the Irrawady delta.

? The Ministry of Health has a team of high-level officials working out of Yangon General Hospital responsible for planning, managing and coordinating the overall emergency response in health.

? Key hospitals are functioning and health supplies continue to reach the major administrative centres. However, outlying areas are difficult to reach, and many health structures are damaged or destroyed.

? The Ministry of Health is expanding coverage beyond hospitals by sending health assistants and midwives to strengthen the human resources at health centres and healthcare delivery points. The health workers are conducting such as chlorination, vaccination, setting up mobile health outreach teams, disease surveillance. They will be involved in health promotion as well.

? The Ministry of Health has redeployed 10 medical doctors and 12 nurses as well as three Public Health Officers from Mandalay and Yangon General Hospital to Ma U Bin hospital.

? The government is encouraging private companies to assist in the damaged areas. This also applies to private hospitals, one of which is sending a medical team and nurses to undertake medical care in Ngaputaw.

? The government organized, for international partners, a visit of affected areas which included temporary shelters in Kyauktan, Dedadye and Kungyangon townships. The shelters were well set up and included medical services. However they have a limited capacity to respond to the large number of people needing assistance.

? John Holmes, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, has arrived in Yangon and will meet with the Cluster leads.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? WHO supplied one emergency health kit to the Ma U Bin Hospital which is functioning as a referral hospital for the affected areas. The kit will cover 10 000 people for three months.

? The 2000 anti-snake venom vials that arrived from Thailand have been dispatched to the affected areas.

? UNFPA reports that their relief supplies cover a population of 150 000 and the target for next week is to cover 300 000. UNFPA supplies include clean delivery, maternal health and reproductive health kits including family planning items.

2. Medical Care and Human Resources
? Reports from health partners suggest a strong need for psychosocial support to the affected people. WHO has distributed guidelines for mental health in emergencies which have been translated into the local language. However the local capacity to respond to this need is limited.

? UNICEF reports that there is an urgent need to equip the temporary shelters with space for clean and safe delivery and is taking action to this effect, as well as supplying clean delivery kits.

? The Ministry of Health has trained approximately 50 epidemiologists posted in the affected areas in the management and control of gastro-enteritis, as well as engineers to improve water quality and sanitation. WHO provided guidelines to the participants on the management of cholera and acute diarrhoea.

? WHO is also distributing guidelines on management of vector-borne diseases like dengue, leptospirosis and chikungunya for health officials in the affected regions.

? The Department of Health is preparing for a possible dengue outbreak in the affected areas, as this vector-borne disease is endemic in this region, and has sent the insecticide and spraying equipment provided by the Health Cluster.

3. Surveillance
? The daily disease surveillance is limited by difficult access to the worst affected areas. The Health Cluster is exploring ways to make this surveillance more effective and expand its reach by drawing on both formal and informal reports.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? Based on the current needs and logistical feasibility, the UN country team has identified three sub-operational hubs based in Pathein, Labutta and Bogale to support with coordination and information management the humanitarian response. They will be managed by UN national staff. The centres will have multi-sectoral coordination functions.

? WHO provided a briefing for a team of doctors from the Thai Ministry of Public Health that has arrived in Myanmar to support the relief work.

? NEXT STEPS
? The Health Cluster?s plans encompass the relief and recovery phase and are being finalized.

? The Health Cluster and Water and Sanitation (WASH) clusters are strengthening their collaboration to ensure rapid response to any cases of severe diarrhoea. The health cluster receives rumours and information from different sources, and these are discussed with the WASH cluster lead to agree on suitable action. The WASH cluster has teams available and is able to send ORS and chlorination supplies to the areas where cases have been reported.

? WHO continues to advocate with the donors to mobilize stronger support for the health sector. Australia donated 2.4 million Australian dollars and DFID will increase its contribution US$ 493 000. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the coming weeks as assessments bring in more clear information on needs.
-
-------

[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

Britain to back air drops to deliver aid to Burmese cyclone victims

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3958892.ece

Kenneth Denby in Rangoon
<!-- END: Module - M24 Article Headline with landscape image (d) --><!-- Article Copy module --><!-- BEGIN: Module - Main Article --><!-- Check the Article Type and display accordingly--><!-- Print Author image associated with the Author--><!-- Print the body of the article--><!-- Pagination --> Britain would support unilateral humanitarian intervention in Burma if the military government?s refusal to accept foreign aid for the victims of Cyclone Nargis results in epidemics and widespread deaths, Lord Malloch-Brown, the Foreign Office Minister, told The Times yesterday.

Lord Malloch-Brown was in Rangoon, the former Burmese capital, as part of an international effort to break the deadlock which has left many of the 2.5 million victims of the cyclone bereft of food, shelter, fresh water and medical care.



The United Nations? humanitarian chief, Sir John Holmes, arrived in the city last night and Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, will also travel to Burma this week to make the case for an aid operation fronted by SouthEast Asian nations, India and China, but containing a strong UN component.

But Britain has not ruled out supporting action under the terms of the UN?s 2005 New York declaration, which sets out the ?responsibility to protect? populations from crimes against humanity using ?appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means?.


In a radio interview on Saturday, Gordon Brown referred to the possibility of unilaterally dropping international aid to stricken areas of the Irrawaddy delta, where as many as 129,000 people are believed to have died a fortnight ago.

?As far as air drops are concerned we rule nothing out, and the reason we rule nothing out, is that we want to get the aid directly to the people,? Mr Brown told the BBC.
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Asked under what circumstances Britain would invoke the responsibility to protect, Lord Malloch-Brown said: ?How do we define if it [the plan for Asian-led aid] isn?t working?



If there are massive outbreaks of disease and secondary deaths, or if it gums up and no aid is delivered.? Western governments and international aid organisations appear to have accepted that the solution they would have liked to bring to Burma ? a massive humanitarian aid operation by western NGOs under UN leadership, such as the one mounted in Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 tsunami ? is out of the question.

The generals who rule Burma know full well the contempt with which they are regarded in the West, and view its aid workers, especially from the former coloniser, Britain, as a Trojan Horse that could undermine even further their legitimacy in the eyes of their own people.

Instead, they are being offered a face-saving compromise in which India, China and the members of the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (Asean) would work with the UN.


?They?re not going to agree to a lot of British and American aid workers fanning out across the delta,? Lord Malloch-Brown said after meetings with a series of Burmese ministers. ?We?ve got an emerging model where the likes of us will work within a framework, led by Asean, other Asian nations and the UN.

?The price of recognising historical suspicions and the political past is that it won?t allow direct Western aid to be delivered to a village by a Brit, for example. [For the Burmese Government], the price of us accepting that has to be a strong UN operation.?

That the junta has accepted a visit from Ban Ki Moon may suggest a willingness to compromise. ?I hope a corner has been turned and that we?re moving into positive territory,? Lord Malloch-Brown said. ?I hope that we have found a solution.?

But the offer of a cooperative aid operation is being reinforced by the threat of the alternative ? a unilateral aid operation enforced by a foreign armada which is discreetly assembling off the coast. The French ship Le Mistral arrived in international waters on Saturday carrying 1,000 tons of aid for 15,000 people. The frigate HMS Westminster is also in the region, carrying helicopters rather than supplies, as well as the American USS Essex.

All three governments insist that they come in peace to offer aid and logistical support for an aid operation to disaster victims, many of whom are accessible only by boat or by air.


The regime?s paranoia is believed to be one of the factors which led it to relocate from Rangoon in 2005 to the new jungle capital of Naypyidaw. A few US Air Force aircraft have landed at Rangoon with supplies, but Western officials acknowledge that the chances of permission for a foreign military presence in the delta are slim.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3958892.ece

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 14 - 20 May 2008
WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS, HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE
1. The Ministry of Health reports that 90 000 outpatients and 10 000 inpatients have been treated in the cyclone-affected areas till 18 May 2008. There have been 2887 mild and 124 severe diarrhoea cases. In a population of 1.5 million, approximately 200 diarrhoea cases per day is within the range seen in previous years.

2. The Ministry of Health is focusing on cross-sectoral prevention measures, such as ensuring clean water, food and shelter, to reduce the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, as water-borne diseases routinely peak in the months of May and June every year.

3. The Ministry of Health has invited health cluster partners to establish and support the surveillance system. The sources of information will extend to the community and not be limited to health workers, in order to strengthen surveillance work and rumour verification.

? The Ministry of Health reports that;
o Ninety thousand outpatients and 10 000 inpatients have been treated till 18 May 2008.

o Across the affected areas, 2887 mild and 124 severe diarrhoea cases have been reported. In a population of 1.5 million, approximately 200 diarrhoea cases per day is within the range seen in previous years.

o Two central-level assessment teams have visited the affected areas. One team was for emergency assistance, the other for logistics and supplies. The teams provided medical care, transferred severely injured patients by helicopter, and provided water and sanitation emergency equipment, including emergency health kits and bleaching powder for water chlorination.

o Three medical ships with 34 doctors are providing health services in the delta area. Another 390 mobile teams are in the field to improve access to health services.

o Government Health professionals are also providing services in 12 ?forefront?, ?middle? and ?rear? relief camps.

o The Ministry of Health has assigned mental health professionals to some areas. Mental health specialists from Thailand have also been deployed.

o The Ministry of Health is focusing on cross-sectoral prevention measures, such as providing clean water, food and shelter, to reduce the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, as water-borne diseases routinely peak in the months of May and June every year.

o Polio and measles immunization in temporary shelters continue. Sufficient measles vaccines are in stock.

? In Dedaye township, the hospital is functioning even though its roof was blown away. All eight rural health centres and 20 sub-centres were badly damaged according to an INGO report.

? As reports of damaged buildings continue to come in, the government has clarified that it is responsible for the rehabilitation of public buildings, but would welcome support form iNGOs and other partners for damaged equipment, instruments and other supplies.

? The Ministry of Health is working closely with UN agencies, local and international NGOs, the private sector and the donor community to ensure that services and supplies reach those who need it without delay.

? International medical teams from Thailand, India, China and Laos are now working in the affected areas with national health professionals.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? WHO has provided more than 65 metric tones of medical drugs, supplies and equipment. This includes more than 3 million tablets of various antibiotics, 15 emergency health kits to cover 450 000 people for a month, 20 000 insecticide treated bed-nets, 15 000 tubes of mosquito repellent cream, 12 800 kg of bleaching powder and 36 000 tablets of chlorine tablets.

* IOM has received 10 000 impregnated mosquito bed-nets.

? CESVI has distributed five emergency kits A and one emergency kit B.

? MoH has invited health cluster partners to assist in transportation of midwives to outlying areas for immunization activities.

2. Medical Care and Human Resources
? WHO, UNICEF, IFRC and ICRC have issued a joint statement on appropriate feeding for infants and young children, cautioning about unnecessary use of milk products, to promote appropriate child feeding practices. The agencies have expressed concerns about milk powder and milk formula being distributed in shelters in the affected areas.

? CESVI is supportive preventive and curative care in Dedaye township, Maternal and Child Health services in four rural health centres and eight subcentres.

? Health partners are to train up to 2000 volunteers in the field of disease prevention and surveillance of communicable diseases.

3. Mental health
? Health Cluster reports have expressed concern on the referral of complicated mental health cases.

? UNICEF has started ?child-friendly corners? in some areas to provide support to children in some affected areas.

? WHO, which has an ongoing programme for mental health in the country, is developing a plan of action. The agency has already distributed guidelines in this subject, translated into the local language.

? IOM also plans to have an active role in providing mental health and psychosocial support.

4. Surveillance
? The Ministry of Health has invited health cluster partners to support and participate in the disease surveillance system in the affected areas.

? The sources of information for disease surveillance and rumour verification will extend to the community and not be limited to health workers, in order to strengthen surveillance work.

? Health partners have also been requested to share information with the township medical officer, public health teams, and regional surveillance officers who are collecting and coordinating such information.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? The Ministry of Health has been working with UNICEF on health promotion and education activities and has invited more material from health cluster partners.

? In Labutta the health cluster and the water and sanitation cluster meet every alternate day, while the food cluster meets every day.

? Inter-agency partners have agreed to convey health education messages during food distribution.

? NEXT STEPS
? The Health Cluster?s plans encompass the relief and recovery phase and are being finalized.

? WHO and health partners will conduct in-depth assessment of the health situation in coordination with the Ministry of Health.

? WHO continues to advocate with the donors to mobilize stronger support for the health sector. Till 18 May 2008, USD 6.2 million has been mobilized. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the coming weeks as assessments bring in more clear information on needs.
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[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

TOP UN RELIEF OFFICIAL MEETS MYANMAR OFFICIALS,
URGING MAJOR AID PUSH

The top United Nations relief official met in Myanmar today with key Government officials, including the Prime Minster, and said that a major push was required to assist victims of the cyclone that has devastated large areas of the country.

Speaking to the press, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said he had noted the need for early recovery in agriculture and fisheries, in parallel with the emergency relief effort, in his discussions with Prime Minister Thein Sein.

He stressed that supplies of clean water, food and medicines will be needed for some months and that recovery was a protracted process.

Mr. Holmes, who also serves as UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said he had discussed all aspects of the response to the disaster, including access and coordination, and how to improve relief operations. Yesterday, he travelled to the hard-hit Irrawaddy delta area, visiting Labutta and Wakema townships and meeting with survivors and speaking with them about their situation.

The UN estimates that 2.4 million people have been affected by Cyclone Nargis and that more than half of them are in need of urgent, priority assistance, with about 500,000 people having so far received some form of international assistance. One concern is that heavy rains are continuing to hamper the relief effort.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of today, some $99.6 million has been committed to relief operations with a further $107.9 million pledged.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is on his way to Myanmar where he intends to help boost the country?s recovery effort. As well as meeting with senior Myanmarese officials, he will attend a pledging conference for international donors, which is co-sponsored by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on Sunday.

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
20 May, 2008

HEADING FOR MYANMAR, BAN KI-MOON PLEDGES TO DO ?UTMOST? TO SPEED AID EFFORTS

As he prepared to leave for Myanmar today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he will do all he can to reinforce the immediate relief effort in the cyclone-devastated country and will also draw attention to the need for long-term reconstruction and development.

?I will do my utmost for the people of Myanmar,? Mr. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. ?I want to see the conditions under which relief teams are working and I intend to do all I can to reinforce their efforts in coordination with the Myanmar?s authorities and international aid agencies.?

Mr. Ban will arrive in Yangon, Myanmar, early Thursday morning and is set to tour the Irrawaddy delta area ? the part of the country most affected by the cyclone. He said the UN had a functioning relief programme in place but cautioned that it is a ?critical moment? for the country and said that so far aid workers had been able to reach only about 25 per cent of people in need in Myanmar. According to UN estimates, some 2.4 million people have been severely affected by Cyclone Nargis.

On Sunday, the Secretary-General will participate in a pledging conference co-sponsored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to raise funds for the aid effort from international donors.

Mr. Ban said he was travelling to Myanmar to ?demonstrate my sympathy to the people and Government at this time of crisis and challenge, and to see for myself the situation on the ground.? He described the disaster caused by the cyclone as ?unprecedented in Myanmar?s history.?

The Secretary-General said he would coordinate closely with ASEAN and Myanmarese officials and said he was confident that relief efforts could be scaled up quickly. He added that the UN had received Government permission to operate nine World Food Programme (WFP) helicopters which would allow aid workers to reach areas that have so far been largely inaccessible.

Mr. Ban also stressed that the international community had to give thought to Myanmar?s long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said that Cyclone Nargis had ?devastated Myanmar?s agricultural heartland? and that it may already be too late for farmers to plant the next harvest. ?In this sense the economic effects of the natural disaster that has struck Myanmar could be more severe and longer lasting than the 2004 tsunami,? he added.

Major relief efforts continue in Myanmar from the WFP, the UN Children?s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), who among them have delivered food, medical supplies, shelter materials and water purification equipment, and have been monitoring for the outbreak of disease.

[mixin]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

Google has added a map which will show the path of Nargis and flooding.
The amount of flooding is amazing.

[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATE] Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 15 - 21 May 2008

WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS
1. Reducing the risk of communicable disease outbreaks is a priority as the monsoon season approaches. Health partners need to reach further, and do more for more people, and do it fast before the next planting season.

2. Supplies from international donors continue to arrive in Myanmar. In the last two days, WHO and health partners have procured emergency health kits to cover 70 000 people, medicines to treat 100 000 cases of diarrhoea, and another 13 metric tones of essential medicines.

3. The United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon is expected to arrive in Myanmar on 22 May 2008.

? HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE
? The United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon is expected to arrive in Myanmar on 22 May 2008.

? According to an INGO field assessment in Bogale township
o There are approximately 23 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bogale and another 60 000 IDPs in its surrounding areas.

o The public hospital in Bogale township was damaged but is functioning. Three of 15 private clinics in the township remain functional.

o The functioning health centres in Bogale have reported treating wounds, burns and trauma.

? Three ships carrying Ministry of Health medical teams left Wadan Jetty for affected villages in Ayeyawady Division on 19 May.

? According to the state media, the international community continues to send relief supplies for the cyclone-affected regions. Five C-130 planes from the USA carrying blankets, nylon ropes, plastic sheets, water buckets, nails, water bottles, plywood and foodstuff weighing over 42 tons arrived at Yangon International Airport on 20 May.

? The Thai medical team, along with Myanmar health staff, provided medical treatment and health care services to the affected people temporary shelters in Labutta today.

? Relief supplies are being dispatched to the affected people in Ayeyawady Division by helicopter, by ship and by road. Vehicles loaded with relief supplies Yangon for Bogale, Labutta, Pyapon, Ngaputaw and Hainggyikyun Townships on 20 May.

? Reducing the risk of communicable disease outbreaks is a priority as the monsoon season approaches. Health partners need to reach further, and do more for more people, and do it fast before the next planting season.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? WHO has sent seven additional interagency emergency health kits. They are being flown from Dubai to Yangon.

? IOM received 13 tons of essential drugs on 18 May.

? UNICEF distributed 3000 family kits and essential drugs to treat 2500 children with common diseases, in nine cyclone-affected townships in Yangon.

? UNICEF is preparing to distribute additional medicines and ORS, Zinc, lactate Ringer and Doxycycline, sufficient to treat 100 000 diarrhoea cases including 15 000 severe cases.

2. Medical Care and Human Resources
? An INGO rapid assessment on food security and water sanitation found that

o households interviewed did not have food stocks, and their diets have changed in response to the lack of traditional sources of food. Illnesses like malaria and diarrhoea will also negatively impact the nutrition status of the affected population.

o the water supply in Bogale is mainly from community ponds and open wells containing untreated water. Salt water intrusion has affected community wells, compromising the quality of water.

o There is a need for water storage containers, basic hygiene material such as soap and cooking sets.

3. Mental health
? An INGO reports psychological distress among the affected communities as survivors have not been able to find the bodies of their loved ones and therefore conduct the usual cultural practices for burial and mourning.

? Young children, particularly those who have lost key care-givers, have been traumatized.

4. Surveillance
? The Ministry of Health and WHO and health partners encourage community participation to strengthen disease surveillance activities.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? In Labutta the emergency health cluster met to discuss measures to prevent outbreaks of diarrhea and dysentery.

? NEXT STEPS
? The Health Cluster is advancing with a joint draft plan that encompasses the relief and recovery phase as well as readiness for major health contingencies.

? WHO continues to advocate with the donors to mobilize stronger support for the health sector. Till 18 May 2008, USD 6.2 million has been mobilized. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the coming weeks as assessments bring in more clear information on needs.

? WHO in Myanmar is negotiating with the Danish Embassy for financial support.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

[MYANMAR, WHO, UPDATES] Health Cluster - Situation Report No. 16 - 22 May 2008

WHO South East Asia Regional Office Website:www.searo.who.int Email: searnargis@searo.who.int

? HIGHLIGHTS
1. Five international medical teams are providing care in the affected areas. The Thai team is in Myaungmya, the Indian team in Bogale and Pyapon, the Chinese team in Kungyangon and Dedaye, the Bangladeshi team in Wakema and the Laos team is in Kyauktan. A team from Singapore will arrive on 22 May.

2. International health partners are expanding their activities in the affected areas. Their mobile teams are using boats to access people in remote areas that are difficult to reach by land.

3. Township hospitals are functioning in Bogale, Labutta, Mawlamyinegyun and Pyapon, and their services have been strengthened by teams of medical specialists from Yangon General Hospital.

? HEALTH ASSESSMENT & SITUATION UPDATE
? Five international teams are providing care in the affected areas. The Thai team is in Myaungmya, the Indian team in Bogale and Pyapon, the Chinese team in Kungyangon and Dedaye, the Bangladeshi team in Wakema and the Laos team is in Kyauktan. A team from Singapore will arrive on 22 May.

? Supplies from UN agencies and other donors continue to arrive. According to state media, on 21 May, nine aircrafts carrying 157 metric tonnes of medical and other supplies and equipment arrived in Yangon.

? The Myanmar Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint, accompanied by the Deputy Minister and deputy director generals of health, met ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan in Yangon on 20 May.

? In Bogale,
o The township hospital is being run by local hospital staff along with a team from the Yangon General Hospital, consisting of two general surgeons, two orthopedic surgeons, two physicians, two pediatricians, two obstetrics and gynecologists, two anesthetists and six nurses from the Intensive Care Unit and Operation Theatre.

o One deputy director from the Department of Health is stationed in Bogale to supervise public health and disease control activities.

? In Labutta,
o All services of the township hospital are working, including the operation theatre. Local staff is being supported by 17 medical specialists and nine nurses from Yangon General Hospital.

o The three rural health centres in Labutta are also functioning.

o The director (epidemiology) of the Department of Health along with the basic health staff of the township are coordinating the public health activities.

o Mobile teams are operating daily clinics at the shelters.

o In shelters, children under the age of five are being vaccinated for measles, and the injured are being given tetanus-toxoid shots.

o The drinking water sources are being chlorinated.

o Disease surveillance is ongoing.

? In Mawlamyinegyun,
o The township hospital is functioning, its strength reinforced by specialists and nurses from Yangon General Hospital.

o From 3rd to 14th May, 802 OPD patients and 403 in-patients were given medical treatments.

o Mobile health teams were also operating in the temporary shelters.

o A Director (Disease Control) from Department of Health was stationed in Mawlamyinegyun to supervise the health activities.

? In Pyapon,
o As of 13th May 2008, the district hospital has been providing services. Its capacity has been strengthened by specialists and nurses mobilized from Yangon General Hospital.

o From 3rd to 13th May treatment were being provided to 170 new OPD patients and 158 new in-patients.

o Deputy Director (Basic Health Services) was stationed in Pyanpon to supervise the health activities.

? NGOS continue to work in the affected areas.

? HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Supplies
? In response to the government?s request for support in water purification, WHO has sent additional supplies of bleaching powder, with a WHO national consultant to provide demonstration and training to the local health staff.

? WHO also supplied survival kits (basic items) to health volunteers working in affected areas. WHO will continue to distribute these with other supplies for the affected areas.

2. Medical Care and Human Resources
? UNICEF has 12 public health professionals in seven townships in Ayeyarwady and seven public health professionals in eight township in Yangon for ongoing assessments, provision of necessary health and sanitation supplies, responding to emerging needs and monitoring of UNICEF assistance.

? Merlin continues to expand activities in Labutta. It currently covers 20 villages and has 11 mobile teams in place in addition to four static clinics. In order increase coverage Merlin has complemented ongoing efforts with a boat, which serves as an advanced mobile operations base. Prior to the cyclone, Merlin had a large network of 570 community workers, many of whom have died or are missing after the cylone. The community workers are trained in basic disease surveillance. Merlin will now focus efforts on reactivating sub-rural health centres in places where they have had a longstanding presence.

3. Surveillance
? WHO team has been strengthened with an epidemiologist who will support the disease surveillance early warning and response activities.

? HEALTH COORDINATION
? Regular coordination of health activities is taking place in Labutta where the township medical officer is actively engaged with partners.

? NEXT STEPS
? The Health Cluster?s joint plan of action for six months, which encompass the relief and recovery phase, is being finalized.

? WHO continues to advocate with the donors to mobilize stronger support for the health sector. Till 18 May 2008, USD 6.2 million has been mobilized. The Flash Appeal will be revised and readjusted during the coming weeks as assessments bring in clearer information on needs.
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[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

Aid workers to get access to Myanmar delta -U.N.
23 May 2008 08:40:01 GMT
<!-- 23 May 2008 08:40:01 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove --> Source: Reuters



<!-- AN5.0 article title end --> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.alertnet.org/bin/js/article.js"></script> <input value="13" name="CurrentSize" id="CurrentSize" type="hidden"> <!-- Aid workers to get access to Myanmar delta -U.N. --> <!-- Reuters --> NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar, May 23 (Reuters) -

Foreign aid workers will be given access to the cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta, not just Yangon, under an agreement with Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe, a U.N. official said on Friday.

"The general said he saw no reason why that should not happen...as long as they were genuine humanitarian workers and it was clear what they were going to be doing," the official said after U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Than Shwe in the new capital of Naypyidaw.

(Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; Editing by Darren Schuettler and Grant McCool)
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[Snowy Owl]

Re: _|WHO: MYANMAR CYCLONE NARGIS EMERGENCY UPDATE|_

<table><tbody><tr><td> Overwhelming support from communities and people assists MSF relief effort in Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table align="top" bgcolor="red" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" hspace="2" vspace="2" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff">
? Eyal Warshawski </td> </tr> </tbody></table> "I am deeply impressed by how the Burmese people have come together to help each other. We went by boat to a place to distribute 1,000 bags of rice, each weighing 50kg. When we arrived, there were no trucks, only 12 young men with motorbikes who agreed to help us transport the rice. We agreed to pay them $5 each for delivering the rice. But once we had finished distributing everything, they refused to let us pay them for their work, despite the fact that those men have also lost their homes."
Find out more... </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table style="margin-bottom: 2px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" cellpadding="3" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;"> Video: An immediate response to huge needs after Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar </td> </tr> <tr> <td> "For the near future, I think our main worry is that people do not have shelter, do not have rice and that there will be a water problem. And the water problem will then possibly lead to outbreak of diarrhoea." - Frank Smithius, MSF Head of Mission, Yangon, Myanmar
Find out more... </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top"></td> <td> Audio - Myanmar: Existing projects were major advantage in the first days' response
12/05/2008 </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top"></td> <td> Audio: Dr Assi Min on the challenges of reaching remote villages at the Myanmar, Cyclone Nargis, emergency
13/05/2008 </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"></td> <td> Myanmar - 2008 country overview
08/05/2008</td></tr></tbody></table>

http://www.msf.org/