Myanmar: Cyclone Mala - May 2006

GENEVA, 18 December 2009 - Five years after an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a massive tsunami that spread throughout the Indian Ocean, UNICEF issued a report summarizing the results of its relief and recovery programmes in the eight affected countries.

View report: Tsunami Report 5 Year Anniversary

The tragic events of December 26, 2004 caused destruction on an unprecedented scale. Nearly 230,000 people were killed - the majority of them women and children.

Overview

The December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a massive tsunami that spread throughout the Indian Ocean, leaving nearly 230,000 dead or missing and devastating communities.

The Union of Myanmar is exposed to multiple natural hazards including cyclone, earthquake, floods and fire. It has been periodically hit by natural disasters. Recent major disasters are as follows:

• Cyclone Nargis, 2008 which led to the loss of 84,537 human lives, 53,836 persons missing and damage to property to the tune of approximately 4.1 billion USD1, • Cyclone Mala, 2006 led to loss of 37 lives • Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004 claimed 61 lives and • Taungdwingyi Earthquake (M: 6.8 RS), 2003 led to loss of 7 lives

By John Sparrow in the Ayeyarwady delta & Eric Porterfield in Washington, DC

When disasters strike the U.S., American Red Cross volunteers respond to help get people back on their feet and it's no different when a disaster strikes overseas. Read below about a local Red Cross volunteer in Myanmar helping his friends and neighbors after Cyclone Nargis.

On the long boat trip to Labutta town from his coastal village, Aung Kyaw Thu thought: Why us?

In less than three and a half years, his village had been hit by three disasters.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

In Brief

Overview: This report covers the period of July-November 2006 of Myanmar Red Cross achievements as a result of Federation support under the tsunami programme. This main document provides an overview and there are links under each programme heading to more detailed information if required.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

In Brief

Period covered by this Final Report: 5 May to 30 November 2006.

This report covers 1 January to 31 December 2006

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme summary: The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) proved itself a consistent supporter of vulnerable communities during 2006, both in terms of disaster response to …

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.

YANGON, 4 May -- CEC member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Aung Myo Min, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo and officials went to Gwa in Rakhine State on 2 May and attended a ceremony to donate cash and kind to the storm victims of Gwa.

Officials clarified storm-affected condition and the commander and the minister made speeches later.

Minister Maj-Gen Thein Swe presented K 10 million …

The death toll in cyclone Mala, which hit several areas of Burma, was officially set at 22 on Thursday. Eighteen people were drowned and 14 reported missing in Kyangin, Irrawaddy Division, the state-run New Light of Myanmar reported. Four people were earlier reported to have died in coastal areas of Arakan State, Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions. The International Federation of Red Cross confirmed that 586 homes in Hlaing Thar Yar industrial zone, on the outskirts of Rangoon, had been damaged. The IFCR said it had sent an assessment team to Gwa, in Arakan State.

YANGON, May 4 (Reuters) - Flash floods triggered by Cyclone Mala killed 18 people in central Myanmar, state media reported on Thursday, sharply raising the death toll from last week's storm.

Another 14 people were still missing after the storm swept inland on April 29 and struck Kyangin Township, 130 miles (210 km) northwest of the capital, Yangon, the Kyemon newspaper said.

"The flash floods occured after the storm caused heavy rainfall in the mountains," the newspaper said, quoting government officials in the area.

Earlier media reports had confirmed four deaths …

YANGON, 3 May -- Social organizations today provided cash and medicine for cyclone victims in the outskirts of Yangon.

At the cash donation ceremony held in Hlinethaya Township , officials of Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (Central) and wellwishers presented cash amounted to K 1.9 million and medicines through responsible personnel.

Chairman of Hlinethaya Township Peace and Development Council U Khin Maung Thein explained damages to factories, buildings and houses owing to the fierce winds of the tropical cyclone which slammed …

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.

Original map title:
Tropical Cyclone MALA in Myanmar

Yangon, 1 May -- Accompanied by officials concerned, Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South West Command Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung and Secretariat member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs and for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw arrived by car at Chaungtha Beach in Ayeyawady Division yesterday and met and encouraged the storm victims at the Dhammayon building of Pyilonchantha Pagoda. Next, the commander and the minister presented K 500,000 and relief aid each to the victims.