Yangon - The United Nations' flash appeal for the survivors
of Cyclone Nargis remains 50 per cent unfunded, five months after the
disaster, the group managing the relief effort disclosed Tuesday.
'Total contribution now stands at 240 million dollars out of the
482 million required. Agriculture and early recovery continue to be
the least-funded sectors,' a statement issued by the Tripartite
Core Group said.
The group, which has handled relief efforts for Cyclone Nargis
victims since June, comprises representatives from the Myanmar
government, UN agencies and the Association of South-East Asian
Nations.
The tripartite mechanism was established to speed up an
international relief effort for the victims of Cyclone Nargis which
smashed into Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta region on May 2-3, leaving
140,000 people dead or missing and another 2.4 million in desperate
need of food, water, medicines and shelter.
The effort initially ran into logistical bottlenecks, caused
primarily by Myanmar's ruling junta's reluctance to grant travel
visas to international aid workers to enter the reclusive country and
other restrictive measures that slowed the flow of aid.
The aid flow increased significantly after the establishment of
the tripartite group, but the international community has been slow
to respond to the UN's appeal for aid.
Over the past five months more than 33,000 metric tons of food
have reached over 733,000 people affected by the cyclone, the
statement said.
Relief workers have also prevented outbreaks of diseases in the
cyclone affected areas, but much still needs to be done.
'People and communities have been severely affected. It will take
a long time until the needs are met,' said UN resident coordinator
Bishow Parajuli, who called on the international community not to
forget the cyclone survivors.
The UN expressed concerns of possible water scarcity in the coming
dry season, due to increased salinity of pond water after the cyclone
and below-average rainfall.
The statement also noted the need for durable and sustainable
shelter that could withstand the weather conditions in the affected
areas.
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