Ref: dhagva - 95/0169
1. THE 27 APRIL A LARGE
FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE TOWN OF BAGO. THE TOWN OF 120,000
INHABITANTS IS SITUATED 48 MILES SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL YANGON.
SEVERAL FIRES AFFECTED THE COUNTRY IN APRIL WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE
END OF THE DRY SEASON. FIRES REPRESENT COLLECTIVELY
MYANMAR'S MOST MENACING NATURAL DISASTER.
2. REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE DESTROYED ALL BAMBOO AND WOODEN MADE HUTS IN THE POOR WARDS (DISTRICTS) OF LEIKPYAKAN AND SHIN SAW PU. ONE WOMEN DIED AND 15 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. A TOTAL OF 745 HUTS WERE BURNT DOWN MAKING 1025 HOUSEHOLDS AND 4558 DAILY INCOMERS HOMELESS.
3. UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE YANGON CONFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS REQUESTED UN TO ASSIST THEM TO COPE WITH THE URGENT NEEDS. THE UNITED NATIONS DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM (UN-DMT) WITH MEMBERS OF UNDP, UNICEF AND WHO VISITED TO THE AFFECTED AREA AND RECOMMENDED TO SUPPORT THE POPULATION WITH BASIC FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICINE AND SHELTER.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
4. RELIEF AND RESETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, NEIGHBOURS AND COMMUNITIES ARE PROVIDING RELIEF BUT AFTER SEVERAL FIRES ONLY LITTLE CAPACITY HAS BEEN LEFT. THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED A STANDARD RELIEF PACKAGE OF ONE BLANKET, TWO LUNGYI, ONE PIECE OF COTTON CLOTH, COOKING POTS, PLATES AND A SEVEN DAY RICE RATION PER HOUSEHOLD. THE LOCAL RED CROSS GAVE CASH GRANTS OF MMK 300 (USD 50) PER FAMILY-HOUSEHOLD, 70 MARQUEE TENTS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR THE TWO HEALTH CENTERS.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
5. DHA PROVIDED USD 40,000 AS EMERGENCY CASH GRANT.
6. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN REPORTED SENDING 3000 BLANKETS, 500 WATER TANKS AND 20 PLASTIC ROLLS WORTH JPY 8,120,200 (USD 96,000) AND EARMARKED JPY 1,1952,200 (23,000) FOR ITS TRANSPORTATION TO BAGO.
TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY TEL.. NO.:+41-22-917.20.10
DESK OFFICER G. MORTIER, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917.13.94
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
SWITCHBOARD +41-22-917-1234
INTERNET EMAIL:
DHAGVA AT
UN.ORG