Myanmar by Satellite; Cyclone Nargis

[repulsewarrior]

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1933&from=rss_home

At least 22,000 deaths have been reported, with 41,000 listed as missing. Over 1 million are homeless. Image available at http://geography.usgs.gov/

The Space Charter is made up of an international group of participating space agencies dedicated to providing satellite images to those affected by natural or human-induced disasters. USGS Landsat satellite images can be viewed at www.glovis.usgs.gov.

[repulsewarrior]

http://www.logcluster.org/mm08a

[repulsewarrior]

Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the UN Resident
Coordinator's Office, Myanmar, UN agencies, UNDAC, regional humanitarian
partners and media sources.
I. SITUATION IN MYANMAR

1. Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3
May 2008, making landfall in Ayeyarwady
Division and directly hitting the country's
largest city, Yangon. 40 townships in Yangon
Division and 7 townships in Ayeyarwady
Division remain on the Government's list of
disaster areas.

2. Assessment teams have reported major damage
in affected areas, particularly the low-lying
delta region, where the Cyclone's impact was
compounded by a storm surge. The delta
townships of Labutta, Bogale and
Mawlamyinegyun were especially heavily hit.
The official death toll now stands at 31,938,
with 29,770 missing. Unofficial estimates are
considerably higher. Based on the original
Government figure of 975,858 persons affected
three days after the disaster in the eight
most seriously hit townships, it is estimated
that at least 1,500,000 people are severely
affected.

3. Food, shelter, medical supplies and water
are all critical needs. The early
rehabilitation of farmers has also been
identified as being crucial, as the affected
area is an important rice-growing area. People
are now reported to have begun migrating
outwards from the most affected areas in
search of basic necessities while others are
stranded in areas of the delta without
drinking water, food or shelter. The movement
of affected populations is rendering some of
the assessment data out-of-date. Damaged
infrastructure and communications, as well as
flooding, pose serious logistical challenges
for relief efforts. Weather reports for
affected areas in the coming days continue to
be unfavourable, with heavy rainfall
predicted.

4. Flights carrying relief items have been
getting in to the country, and the Government
and humanitarian partners are reaching an
increasing number of affected persons.
However, the levels of aid getting in to the
country remain far below what is required to
meet the needs on the ground.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. State media reported on 12 May that a total
of 9,330 cyclone victims have been evacuated
from the worst-hit parts of the southwest of
Ayeyarwady Division to relief sites in Maubin,
Wakema and Myaungmya townships.

6. The Myanmar Minister of National Planning
and Economic Development has now stated that
aid from any nation will be accepted and that
delivery of relief goods can be handled by
local organisations and people working in
international agencies provided this is
carried out in cooperation with the
Government. The movement of international
relief workers to the disaster-hit areas is
still restricted.

For more information please contact:

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood
Tel. +95 (0)1 542910, +95 (0)1 542917
+95 (0)1 544187, Ext. 107
Email: undacmyanmar@gmail.com

[repulsewarrior]

ASEAN to coordinate Myanmar aid effort

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSBKK1919620080519?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

[repulsewarrior]

"Aid in Myanmar should not be politicized. Our focus now is on saving lives."

-- United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who flew on May 22 to Myanmar (Burma), where he hoped to pry open the door to more international aid at what he called a "critical moment" in the country's slow recovery from the cyclone that left at least 100,000 people dead or missing. But the opening offered by Myanmar appeared to be a narrow one, the International Herald Tribune reported. Some analysts said the ruling generals were conceding only enough to defuse international pressure in the wake of the May 3 cyclone. Ban is scheduled to meet the leader of the military junta, Senior General Than Shwe. Shwe had previously not responded to Ban's messages or taken his telephone calls."The strings attached to the relief supplies carried by warships and military helicopters are not acceptable to the Myanmarese people," said the official government newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, on May 22, saying the country would not accept relief supplies carried by the American vessels that are waiting, along with French and British vessels, outside its territorial waters. "We can manage by ourselves. Myanmar has many good neighborly countries."