Myanmar: Emergency Situation Report No. 1

This report was issued by OCHA office in Myanmar. It covers the period from 1 March to 31 March 2009. The next report will be issued on or around May 1st, 2009.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Water scarcity problems during the dry season (April-May).

- Continue and expand Disaster Risk Reduction programmes.

- Raise funds for Agriculture, Shelter and WASH clusters for urgent pre-Monsoon needs. 130,000 families or half a million people are living in hopelessly vulnerable shacks, with failing tarpaulins for roofing materials.

- Indebtedness is rising amongst Nargis-affected communities.

II. Situation Overview

- The Tripartite Core Group-TCG has reduced the number of planned PoNREPP recovery hubs from 11 to 4. The 'PoNREPP Handbook on Coordination Arrangements for Post-Nargis Recovery Activities' is due for endorsement by the TCG on 7 April 2009. Also, the formation of a 'Recovery Team' will be established following review by the TCG.

- There are continuing delays and increasing concerns in the processing of humanitarian workers' Nargis visas.

- The second Periodic Review has completed its questionnaire and arranged for teams of enumerators.

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

AGRICULTURE

Needs Assessments and Analysis

- In mid-March, the Agriculture Cluster undertook a rapid assessment of the fertilizer and seed needs of its members for the monsoon planting season. Based on this assessment, including upstream and downstream capacity to implement within the appropriate time frame, the current level of productive asset, an estimated US$ 16.6 million is urgently needed for agriculture inputs.

Response

- Data collection is ongoing to track the response by cluster members and other actors thus far on a township and village tract level. Data collection was completed in Bogale and Pyapon townships in March. Bogale saw the distribution of 13,559 crab traps, 496 buffalos, over 10,000 chickens and 10,000 ducks, 496 heads of buffalo and 584 power tillers. In Pyapon, a total distribution of 830 boats, 501 nets, 32,499 crab traps, 150 buffalo, 10,676 chickens, 16,399 ducks and 1,586 piglets and 165 power tillers. Data collection continues for Labutta, Dedaye, and Mawlamyinegun townships.

Challenges

- With agriculture remaining the least-funded sector under the Flash Appeal, several organizations within the Agriculture Cluster may cease operating in the Delta in the next few months due to insufficient funding. The short time frame for delivering inputs for monsoon planting means increased donor support is urgently needed for many parts of the Delta which have yet to recover sufficient production capacity.

Gaps and Future Planning

- The Agriculture Cluster is currently developing a contingency plan through to the end of its operation in June, 2009. Although focused on urgently funding inputs for monsoon season planting, the Cluster is also developing an exercise to assess organizations' planned inputs and current shortfalls for the summer 2009 planting season.