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JOINT ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPLETES DATA COLLECTION FROM MYANMAR’S CYCLONE AFFECTED AREA

Friday, 20 June 2008

Some 250 members of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) team return to Yangon today after completing data collection in 30 affected townships across Yangon and the Ayeyarwady Delta. Over the next few days, the team will continue with the next stages of data entry and early analysis. Preliminary findings and a progress report will be presented at the ASEAN roundtable meeting in Yangon on 24 June. These will also inform the revised Humanitarian Appeal, which will be launched in Geneva in July. The PONJA report is planned for release on 18 July.

JOINT ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPLETES DATA COLLECTION FROM

MYANMAR’S CYCLONE AFFECTED AREA

(Yangon, 20 June 2008): Some 250 members of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) team return to Yangon today after completing data collection in 30 affected townships across Yangon and the Ayeyarwady Delta. Over the next few days, the team will continue with the next stages of data entry and early analysis. Preliminary findings and a progress report will be presented at the ASEAN roundtable meeting in Yangon on 24 June. These will also inform the revised Humanitarian Appeal, which will be launched in Geneva in July. The PONJA report is planned for release on 18 July.

PONJA was initiated following the ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference in Yangon on 25 May, where the importance of a credible multi-sectoral assessment was stressed. The assessment is being undertaken by ASEAN, the Government of Myanmar, and the United Nations. ASEAN and UN teams were in the field with Government counterparts between June 9 and 19, supported by experts from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as well as local and international humanitarian organizations. The information that was collected enable teams to assess the impact of the disaster and estimate emergency, early recovery and long term needs.

While the two interrelated assessment processes – the Village Tract Assessment (VTA), and the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) - are in process, national and international humanitarian relief efforts continue to bring help to the most vulnerable survivors. Some 15,800 MT of international food assistance has been delivered to affected areas, with 6,785 MT of food now distributed in total, reaching 676,000 beneficiaries. More than 350,000 plastic sheets have been distributed to provide some emergency shelter, while a further 450,000 are currently in the delivery pipeline.

Health partners note that no new cases of measles have been reported since 6 June, while some 7,691 children have since been immunized in 10 camps. The Ministry of Health and humanitarian organizations are now implementing a plan of action for dengue prevention and control.

Many pregnant women in the affected areas have been left without access to prenatal examinations, skilled delivery assistance or emergency obstetric care. Supplies ranging from rubber gloves for midwives to hospital equipment for emergency deliveries continue to be provided to community health facilities so that women can give birth safely. Several mobile health clinics have also been organized to address reproductive health needs in affected townships, and temporary facilities including clinics and maternity waiting homes are planned, as well as training for organizations providing emergency medical services.

The National Plan of Action on the protection of children in emergencies is being finalized by the Government with support from various humanitarian organizations. Once approved, the plan is expected to chart concrete steps for the protection of cyclone affected and separated children. Meanwhile, Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) are being established in villages and temporary settlements: 58 CFSs are functioning in Yangon Division, and 53 CFSs in Ayeyarwady Division thus far.

To enable children to return to school, humanitarian organizations have rehabilitated 1,115 primary schools and provided 700 temporary safe learning spaces. 114,000 children have been reached through essential learning packages, 38,000 children from 750 schools-in-a-box, and 62,000 children from 770 recreation kits.


For further information please contact:
Yangon: Laksmita Noviera, United Nations Coordination Office Myanmar, Email: noviera@un.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Chatrium Hotel Room 808, Tel: +95 1 544266
Bangkok: Amanda Pitt, OCHA Regional Office for Asia & Pacific, Tel: + 66 2288 1195, Mob: +66 81 374 1035, Email: pitta@un.org