Burma - Cyclone Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year (FY) 2009

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Note: The last fact sheet was dated July 30, 2008.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- On October 19, the Tripartite Core Group, comprising representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Government of Burma (GOB), and the U.N., launched the first Periodic Review to monitor program progress, identify outstanding humanitarian needs, and inform future response planning. The review builds on the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment completed in July to ensure comprehensive and credible monitoring of the humanitarian situation through at least March 2009, when the U.N. Revised Appeal ends.

- According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the U.N. Revised Appeal for $482 million remained 55 percent funded as of October 23, with a shortfall of more than 60 percent for early recovery activities.

- USAID/OFDA partners continue to implement livelihoods recovery programs in the most affected areas of Ayeyarwady and Rangoon divisions, including microfinance recapitalization and agricultural input provision.

- To date, total U.S. Government (USG) assistance of nearly $69 million includes $9 million of USAID/OFDA funding to support early recovery activities among cyclone-affected populations.

- Following the deactivation of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) in July, USAID/OFDA deployed an Emergency Disaster Response Coordinator (EDRC) to Rangoon to conduct humanitarian assessments, monitor USG-funded programs, and coordinate with humanitarian organizations.

TOTAL FY 2008 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING USAID/OFDA

Assistance to Burma $28,589,549
USAID/FFP(1) Assistance to Burma $28,063,200
DOD(2) Assistance to Burma $12,273,152
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Burma $68,925,901

CURRENT SITUATION

- Preliminary findings of the Interagency Standing Committee's Real-Time Evaluation (RTE) of the Cyclone Nargis humanitarian response indicate that despite limited international access during the early phase of the crisis, the emergency response proved largely successful in preventing additional deaths following the initial impact of the cyclone. The access afforded to community-based organizations, private sector entities, individuals, religious groups, and GOB agencies facilitated accurate and timely targeting of areas vulnerable to disease outbreaks and nutritional decline. International access and assistance gradually increased as the emergency phase continued, helping to sustain the effectiveness and scope of emergency programs.

The RTE team also identified livelihoods, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and community consultation as areas requiring increased attention during the early recovery and reconstruction phases. In the medium-term, through the Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP), the humanitarian community aims to bolster partner cooperation in the education, health, livelihoods, shelter, DRR, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors. PONREPP activities are intended to succeed current U.N. Revised Appeal programs in April 2009. The humanitarian community is scheduled to present the PONREPP at the joint ASEAN/U.N. summit in mid-December.

Notes:

(1) USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP)

(2) U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)