Foreword

- The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, together with UNHCR, WFP country representatives and the OCHA head of office visited the cyclone affected areas on 13-15 December. The UN delegation travelled to Sittwe, Myebon, Pauktaw townships and visited severely affected villages to obtain first-hand information from international/local partners and communities on state of progress as well as remaining gaps and needs in key sectors such as food, shelter and livelihoods.

- A total of 6,487mt of mixed food commodities

- The Prime Minister made a second visit to the affected areas in Myebon, Kyaukpyu and Sittwe Townships on 24 November 2010.

- The USG/ERC has approved CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund) funding amounting to approximately US$ 6 million for the response to Cyclone Giri.

- As of 26 November 2010, 9, 306 tarpaulins and 6,037 Emergency Shelter Kits (ESK)/NFI kits are in the final stage of distribution to beneficiaries in the affected area, mainly in villages in Myebon and Minbya Townships and a few villages in Pauktaw Township.

The first food distribution is expected to be completed by 20 November with 1,355 Mt of rice for nearly 200,000 beneficiaries.

Due to the severe damages to the livelihoods assets, it is anticipated that there will be very limited job opportunities for farm laborers over the next three months.

Increased storage capacity by WFP in both Myebon and Kyaukpyu with 800 metric tons or 900 cubic meter is now available to humanitarian organisations.

Findings available so far indicate that

- The Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar visited affected areas in Myebon and Kyaukpyu Townships on 04 November 2010.

- The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the Humanitarian Country Team in Myanmar have activated the cluster system for the response to Cyclone GIRI.

- According to latest figures shared by local authorities, 101,923 people remain homeless after the cyclone.

- Of a total 480,221 acres cropped in the monsoon season by about 86,000 farming households, 51% of the total

- Continuous rains in Chin State during the first and second week of October damaged roads, bridges, paddy fields, upland farms and irrigation canals in Chin State.

- Increased food assistance is required in the Southern townships following the recent rat infestation which caused damages to the crops in the area.

- WFP has completed a food security assessment and the findings will be shared with the partner soon.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- The most affected areas are reported to be Kyaukpyu, Myebon, Minbya, Munaung and Pauktaw. According to assessments conducted by the Red Cross, the number of affected persons is confirmed to be at least 176,823. According to local authorities, 70,795 people remain homeless.

- Although there is severe damage to infrastructure, it is reported that major loss of life has been avoided,

- The Myanmar Meteorology and Hydrology Department reports that the storm has weakened into a tropical depression. Tropical Storm Risk has removed cyclone GIRI from its tracking system since it weakened.

- The Myanmar Red Cross Society is conducting assessments in seven affected townships of Rakhine State. Preliminary results in Kyaupyu indicate that at least 4,500 people have been affected, while at least 700 people have been affected in Munaung Township (an island off the coast of Rakhine State).

- A donation centre has been established