Kay Latt

British ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, talks to The Irrawaddy about the role of the UN and Asean in Burma, the Cyclone Nargis relief effort and his expectations for the election in 2010

Question: How do you assess events in Burma in 2008?

Answer: It was a bad year on almost all fronts. It was especially cruel that on top of all their other problems, the people of this country had to cope with the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis—but at least there we’ve seen some good progress. After a difficult start, relief reached those who needed it, a creative mechanism was established for overseeing the operation and a number of tricky problems were overcome.

Elsewhere, there was no movement, in fact quite the opposite. The UN secretary-general himself said very recently that the degree of cooperation between Myanmar and the UN had been unsatisfactory. There was no move towards any sort of dialogue between the government and the opposition. There was continued repression.

The number of political prisoners doubled, and more than 200 activists, who’ve done nothing but espouse peaceful protests, were given massive prison sentences. Aung San Suu Kyi remains locked away and prevented from playing the conciliatory role she could fulfil if allowed. The various concessions made at the turn of the year, like the series of meetings between her and the labour minister came to nothing. The population has been told to expect the introduction of “disciplined democracy” in 2010—they’ve seen plenty of the former but not much of the latter.

Q: Many critics, including Burmese both inside and outside the country, believe that Gambari’s mission has been a failure. What can he do to win greater credibility for his mission and to achieve political reconciliation in Burma?

A: The UN is playing a key role and we support it 100 percent. Dr Gambari has been working the problem extremely hard, but, as he and the secretary-general have made clear, the level of cooperation from the government has simply not been good enough.

There’s always been a tendency to criticise the envoy—you saw the same with Razali Ismail, you see it now with Dr Gambari, but that’s a mistake. It’s quite clear where responsibility lies for the lack of forward movement. The priority for 2009 therefore is to rebuild more solid international backing for what the UN is trying to do. The secretary-general’s personal engagement is a great asset and should help achieve that, and we hope very much to see him back here once conditions allow. We have now a clear assessment of where things have got to on which to build. It’s crystal clear there’s not been the kind of progress over the past 12 months which a number of countries claim to have seen. In fact, the situation has gone backwards and will continue to do so until there is clear and unambiguous backing for the UN. Issues like the release of political prisoners, rather than being internal matters, are central to what the UN is trying to achieve—political reconciliation.

Q: The UK played a major role in the cyclone relief operation—where do you see things going now?

A: The operation is going far better than we feared at the outset. The Tripartite Core Group mechanism has proved a great success, and there has been excellent collaboration between the government, Asean and the UN. Most of the affected population is getting some form of support, a wave of secondary deaths has been avoided, and the operation has been instrumental in saving hundreds of thousands of lives. As you say, the UK has been the largest contributor, and we’re proud of that. Most of all though it’s been a fantastic co-operative effort which has involved a range of donors, agencies, and local and international NGOs, all of which has rested on the hard and innovative work of the three TCG partners.

Our ministers are now in the process of assessing what more we might do. Looking ahead, we—and I think most donors—hope to see the TCG mandate extended beyond July so that it can build on what’s been achieved.

We hope also that in partnership with government, some of the underlying policy issues in the area of agriculture and livelihoods, that affect the ability of those in the delta and elsewhere to make a sustainable living, can be considered. There’s good work going on there too, but there’s probably more that could be done. The key point is that there’s no point bandaging the patient if you then send him back into the environment that helped cause the problem in the first place.

Q: Do you think that the “humanitarian space” in the delta can be expanded to other areas of the country? What makes you believe that this will be possible, and what obstacles do you foresee?

A: That’s certainly the hope of all of us who are involved in the operation. The Nargis operation has helped build confidence and trust between the government and the donor community. We’ve seen good co-operative working, and both local and international NGOs play a fantastic role. All this has been excellent, but, as you say, the rest of the country is out there and it’s important in coming months that collectively we start to raise our eyes from the delta to address some of the serious situations elsewhere. Whether we’ll succeed, and the environment will almost certainly be difficult and unpredictable in the period up to 2010, remains to be seen, but it’s essential we try to build on the gains and keep up the momentum.

Q: The UK has tended to take a hard political line on Burma. Why in this case were you willing to donate so generously? And how would you respond to sceptics who say that
aid organisations cannot operate effectively in Burma because of government restrictions? You recently asked the Burmese military government to increase its assistance to the Burmese people. Do you think that they have increased their aid to people who are in need?

A: We’ve always believed that, while the search for a political solution goes on, the people of this country should not be made to suffer further. We’ve steadily extended our humanitarian work in-country, particularly in health, but in other areas too, like livelihoods and primary education. Our role in the relief operation was consistent with this, and we hope that the success it’s enjoyed will encourage other donors to work in this country, which remains one of the most under-aided in the world.

To the sceptics you mention, I’d say that while this is not always the easiest of environments, good work can and is being done. The Three Diseases Fund is a good example. It’s delivering real health benefits to vulnerable populations, has benefited from excellent cooperation from the Ministry of Health and has at all times operated within the guidelines donors set at the outset. We very much hope to see more donors come in and are more than happy to share our experience with them. We hope to see the government’s contribution increase—that not only makes more funds available for the delivery of health, education, etc, but it also sends a signal of commitment that helps draw in new donors and encourages those already here to provide more assistance.

Q: Turning back to politics, what about Burma’s neighbours? Apart from the members
of Asean, what do you think other countries, such as India, China and Russia, can do to bring about positive change in Burma?

A: There’s a key role for the countries of the region. Everyone understands the intractable nature of this problem. There are no easy solutions, and it must be tempting at times, when the issue is on your doorstep, to give up on it. Regional integration is hard enough at the best of times, yet alone when one of the members is moving in the opposite direction in political and economic terms. For the members of Asean, the situation poses an obvious reputational challenge—at the very time they are launching the human rights charter, we have a member flouting the standards it is designed to promote and as the situation declines—and it will—the practical effects on the neighbours, are likely to become more pronounced.

The fundamental question for the region therefore is whether the course on which the government is embarked is going to deliver the sort of stability and prosperity they have achieved in their own countries? There’s very little evidence in my view that it is. Nobody is under any illusions about the scale of the challenge, and a number of countries in the region have been working to address it, but the key in coming months is to build a more unified backing for what the UN is trying to achieve.

It’s essential that the government should constantly be reminded, by those that have influence, of the need for change and meaningful cooperation with the UN.

Q: There has been a great deal of speculation that Aung San Suu Kyi could be released this year. If so, what do you think she will be able to achieve?

A: Whether she’ll be freed we obviously don’t know, but she should be. She has made clear repeatedly her willingness to work with the government and other political and ethnic nationality forces to address the challenges this country faces. She has made clear her wish to work for gradual, stable, evolutionary change, and change which takes account of the interests of the many different parties involved, including the military.

The fact that she’s under house arrest suggests she’s regarded as a threat. But she’s actually an opportunity in the sense that she could be instrumental in helping to forge the sort of broad-based dialogue with government that is the only way that progress is going to be made. If she’s not allowed to play that role, then it’s difficult to see how this will be done.

Q: The regime has accused the British and other Western embassies of meeting with
NLD members. How do you respond to this charge?

A: We keep in touch with as wide a range of opinion as we are able. That includes government, as well as a range of other actors, and that’s very much the role of an embassy.

Q: How do you see Burma’s political landscape in 2010 and beyond? What is the UK government’s stance on the 2010 election?

A: The coming year will obviously be dominated by preparations for the elections in 2010, and we’ll presumably soon get some more detail of what the SPDC will allow in terms of participation. This can all represent a healing process, and a step on the way to resolving longstanding political difficulties—or it can be the opposite—as has been the case till now.

There’s clearly time to make the process more inclusive. We hope to see that happen. The European Union has always made clear that it is willing to respond to movement in a positive direction. Clearly, you can not have a credible electoral process without certain things happening—the release of political prisoners, engagement between government, opposition and the ethnic nationalities—and those are the criteria against which it should be judged.

(From 'Irrawaddy News Magazine')

by Yves-Kim Creac’h and Lilianne Fan

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has in the past been strongly criticised for its position on and relationship with Myanmar, in particular for its policies of ‘non-interference’ and ‘constructive engagement’. In its response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, ASEAN as an organisation took a bold step by proactively assuming a leadership role, both in convincing the Myanmar government to cooperate with the international community and in managing the response itself. In so doing, it has helped to open up an unprecedented level of humanitarian space. While much work still needs to be done, ASEAN’s approach to the post-Nargis response may well offer a model for other regional organisations. Natural disasters such as Cyclone Nargis are likely to become increasingly frequent, and expertise in responding to and managing them will be needed in the future.

ASEAN’s position on Myanmar

ASEAN was founded on 8 August 1967. Initially comprising five members –Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – by 1999, with the accession of Cambodia, the organisation encompassed all ten of the region’s states, including Myanmar. The organisation was founded on a set of core principles: non-interference in its members’ affairs, consensus, the non-use of force and non-confrontation. These principles have governed ASEAN’s relationship with Myanmar, and have been the source of the harshest criticism of its stance towards the regime there, not only from Western governments but also increasingly from pro-democracy forces within its own member countries.

Throughout most of the 1990s, ASEAN’s engagement with Myanmar consisted of quiet diplomacy and confidence-building measures. Following the country’s accession, however, members increasingly presented their position as a realist response in light of the country’s isolation and xenophobia, rather than as tacit consent with the policies and practices of the regime. ASEAN’s strongest and most united criticism of the junta came in the wake of its brutal crackdown on civilian protesters in September 2007. Following the crackdown, ASEAN members were divided over the degree to which they should uphold the principle of non-interference in relation to Myanmar. The decision to play a major role in the Cyclone Nargis response gave ASEAN an opportunity to forge a common position.

Just after the cyclone struck, on 5 May, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan called on all member states to provide urgent relief assistance through the framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Three days later, on 8 May, the Myanmar government agreed to work in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat to assemble and deploy an ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT), made up of government officials, disaster management experts and NGOs from member countries. In the first-ever such mission for ASEAN, ERAT was deployed to Myanmar from 9–18 May. Its report was submitted to a Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 19 May. At the meeting, ministers agreed to establish an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism to ‘facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel’. Over the next week, the ASEAN Secretariat, in consultation with experts from member states, worked on designing an appropriate mechanism. The result was a two-tiered structure, consisting of a diplomatic body, the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force (AHTF), and a Yangon-based Tripartite Core Group (TCG), consisting of ASEAN, the Myanmar government and the United Nations, to facilitate day-to-day operations. The first concept paper for the mechanism was circulated at the 25 May Pledging Conference in Yangon. A detailed terms of reference for the TCG followed soon afterwards.

The ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force (AHTF)

The AHTF has 22 members, two from the ASEAN Secretariat, including the ASEAN Secretary-General as chair, and two officials (one senior diplomat and one technical expert) from each of the ten ASEAN countries. The main function of the Task Force is to supervise and advise the TCG, including on broad strategic planning, priorities and targets. The AHTF agreed to meet at least once a month for the first three months and more regularly if necessary.

The Tripartite Core Group (TCG)

The Yangon-based TCG was set up to oversee the coordination of resources, operations, monitoring and reporting. The ASEAN component of the TCG comprises a senior ASEAN member (i.e. an ambassador from an ASEAN country based in Yangon), an official from the ASEAN Secretariat and an expert on disaster management. The Myanmar component of the TCG is represented by a senior member from the government, appointed by the Central Coordinating Board, and two others. The United Nations component comprises the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, the Resident Coordinator and the head of one of the UN operational agencies, on a rotating basis. Additional technical experts can be invited to provide technical support as required. The TCG meets once or twice a week, and is perceived by aid agencies working in Myanmar to be generally effective in overseeing and facilitating the cyclone response.

The PONJA

At the International Pledging Conference, donors made two major demands: the provision of full and unfettered access for relief workers, and the preparation of an objective and credible needs assessment. This became the responsibility of the TCG, which responded by commissioning the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA).

The PONJA was launched in Yangon on 8 June. It was a massive multi-stakeholder joint assessment effort involving the Myanmar government, ASEAN, the UN, international financial institutions and INGOs. Using a spatially-clustered methodology, the relief and recovery component of the PONJA was analysed through the Village Tract Assessment (VTA), while the macro and long-term recovery component was reviewed through a Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA). Over 300 people, divided into 32 teams, spent ten days touring the cyclone-affected area. The World Bank seconded some 20 experts to ASEAN, and technical experts were also brought in from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Operational UN agencies and INGOs contributed significantly to the PONJA, both through the assessment teams (the VTA teams were coordinated by Merlin – see the following article, which discusses the VTA process in more detail) and through the analysis and writing of various components of the report (Oxfam lent two technical coordinators to the PONJA writing teams for the water and sanitation and early recovery sections).

The preliminary findings of the PONJA were presented at an ASEAN Roundtable in Yangon on 24 June, and fed into a revised Flash Appeal, launched in New York on 10 July, which requested $303.6 million. On 21 July, on the occasion of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, ASEAN and the UN jointly launched the final PONJA report. Following the launch, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes paid a three-day visit to Myanmar. ‘In May,’ he said, ‘donors requested access for international relief workers and a credible, objective assessment: these are both now in place.’

Key findings of the PONJA report included:

• A total of $1 billion was needed for recovery over the following three years. Damage from the cyclone was estimated at $4bn.
• Total economic losses amounted to about 2.7% of Myanmar’s projected GDP in 2008.
• Affected households were extremely vulnerable – 55% reported having only one day of food stocks or less, and were reliant on the steady flow of relief supplies.
• The scale of the impact was similar to that inflicted on Indonesia following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
• Over 90% of needs were at the community level and could be addressed through community-based approaches.

Monitoring and review

Following the PONJA, ASEAN created a monitoring unit to measure the progress of the humanitarian response, dispatched ASEAN personnel to pre-established UN hubs in the field and commenced joint planning for the early recovery period. Regular ‘Periodic Reviews’ (three are planned) are designed to evaluate the progress of the recovery effort. To develop the detailed methodology for the review, technical consultations are being conducted with aid agencies, the Myanmar government and local NGOs. One of the key advantages of the review process is that, like the PONJA, it should capture the efforts of every stakeholder, from government programmes to private sector initiatives and local spontaneous action, as a complement to the cluster monitoring systems. It will also provide independent and objective information to identify, verify and address gaps in the recovery effort.

Implications, lessons and opportunities

ASEAN’s role in the Cyclone Nargis response holds important implications, lessons and opportunities for the international humanitarian community. According Holmes, following a visit to cyclone-affected areas in late July: ‘Nargis showed us a new model of humanitarian partnership, adding the special position and capabilities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to those of the United Nations in working effectively with the government’. ASEAN leadership, Holmes went on, was ‘vital in building trust with the government and saving lives’.

While ASEAN’s actions have been acknowledged as key in providing leadership, structure and legitimacy to the Nargis response, it took some time for ASEAN and the Myanmar government to recognise the role of NGOs, and the TCG does not include any NGO representatives. The organisation has also faced criticism that the Periodic Review simply duplicates the cluster approach and is redundant. This overlooks the fact that access to the Delta was granted through the PONJA, and was the result of intervention by ASEAN. While OCHA might have been a more natural home for such a review process, it was not operational in Myanmar prior to the cyclone and has only recently been allowed to establish a presence in the country. ASEAN’s hosting of the review ensures continuity, and the organisation’s mandate means that all stakeholders can engage in the review process with commitment and accountability.

With the intensification of climate change, cyclones, earthquakes and other natural calamities will become increasingly common. In this new global context, there is an urgent need for effective regional mechanisms to identify priorities in the early stages of an emergency response. Such regional capacity will allow the quick deployment of disaster experts, the establishment of appropriate institutional arrangements and a smooth linking into existing emergency appeal mechanisms, to ensure that the needs of victims are addressed in a timely and adequately manner, and that the transition from relief to recovery is well-supported and effectively managed.

Yves-Kim Creac’h (yveskim.creach@merlin.org.uk) is the head of Merlin’s Emergency Response Team, based in London. He was coordinator of the Village Tract Assessment component of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA). Lilianne Fan (lilianne.fan@gmail.com) is an independent consultant on humanitarian policy, reconstruction and governance, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Previously, she was Oxfam’s Senior Policy Coordinator for Aceh, and Humanitarian Policy Coordinator for Myanmar.

(From 'Mizzima News')

WFP closes Bangkok relief air bridge for Burma
by Zarni
Saturday, 23 August 2008 21:08

Chiang Mai - With the last of aid flight flying into Burma on Friday, the United Nations World Food Programme said, it is closing Thailand's Don Mueang airbase as an air bridge for aid supplies into the Cyclone-hit nation.

"We will no longer need to base in Bangkok as most of the supplies can be brought in by air cargo plane directly to Yangon [Rangoon] or it can come by ships to the port of Yangon [Rangoon]," Paul Risley, WFP's spokesperson in Bangkok, told Mizzima on telephone.

Don Mueang Airport has been used as a logistic hub to speed up the transfer of humanitarian assistants to the victims in time since cyclone Nargis hit Burma in early May.

According to WFP's reports, nearly four million kilograms of cargo were delivered through the Don Mueang air hub to Burma, including shelter material, medical supplies, mosquito nets and water purification equipment.

Risley added that WFP has delivered almost 28,000 tons of relief supplies to more than 700,000 people in the cyclone hit areas.

WFP also withdraw its eight helicopters out of ten.

"Two are enough for carrying the relief materials to the delta region. On the other hand, we will use trucks and boats to move them," Risley.

But a Christian pastor, who has been involved in distributing relief aid to victims, said, more than three months after the cyclone hit, victims are still struggling to recover and food remains the most important needs for them.

"There are many more villages that need support, though, most have received initial support, the amount for them is too little to sustain them," the pastor, who visited Bogale and Laputta Township in the Irrawaddy delta said.

He added that with many domestic donors and volunteers stopping their activities, victims are left much to themselves to recover.

"But there are still a few more international agencies operating in the region," he said.

"But I think that is not enough," the pastor added.




Not enough cash grant for cyclone victims

by Solomon
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 22:11

New Delhi – Coming to the aid of farmers in cyclone-hit regions to help them in planting paddy and to rebuild their lives, the United Nations Development Programme has begun providing cash grants of up to 200,000 kyat (USD 170).

"UNDP is giving cash grants as part of its community works programme to farmers to hire casual labour to plant their crops," Nick Keyes, communication advisor of UNDP Burma said.

He said, come harvest time, the farmer is expected to repay this amount – either in cash or in rice – to a community rice bank or to a village committee set up with the help of the agency to facilitate recovery efforts.

"The farmer is not expected to repay the amount to UNDP, and there is no interest charged at any time," said Keyes.

Keyes added that the UNDP has been engaged in granting money and helping in other community works including rebuilding infrastructure such as schools, water tanks, paths, jetties, in at least 250 communities in five townships of the cyclone affected areas of Laputta, Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyaiklat and Ngapudaw.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Cyclone Nargis that lashed Burma in early May left at least 100,000 households in Burma's Irrawaddy delta landless and over 50,000 farmers needing help to be able to cultivate during the monsoon.

However, a volunteer in Bogale Township said the aid from UNDP or any other agencies are not enough with many farmers still left without any support.

"My brothers, sisters and relatives are farmers but none of them got any support from any organization or from the government," the volunteer added.

He said though he saw several power tillers at Bogale donated by the UNDP, his relatives and several farmers did not receive any of them.

"I don't know to which areas and to which farmers these grants [money] or power tillers go," the volunteer said.

Several farmers from nearly 100 villages in the northeastern, western and Eastern regions of Bogale Township said they face shortage of paddy seeds, the volunteer, who recently visited nearly 80 villages said.

Despite the UNDP's monetary grant, he added, several farmers will not have anything to harvest as they lack assistance to grow rice and many farmers who planted, had to contend with failed crops.

A volunteer in Bogale town, who recently visited nearly 80 villages said, farmers complained that many of the paddy seeds failed to yield though they are not sure why.

"I am sure less then 50 per cent of the paddy fields will be ready for harvest this year," the volunteer said.

A Christian pastor from Rangoon, who has just returned from a visit to Bogale and Laputta townships, said though most of the victims have received aid, the amount is no where near sustainable for victims.

"It will not be right to say victims did not receive any aid, but it is also difficult to say they have received much because the amount they got is too little," the pastor said.

He added that many of them just received a few kilograms of rice and other material, which according to him will sustain them for only a few days.

"I could understand when they [victims] said they have not received any aid, because even if they have got it, the amount they received is too little to sustain them," the pastor added.




UN admits loss of about 1.56 million dollars of cyclone aid in Burma
by Mungpi
Thursday, 14 August 2008 20:38

New Delhi - The United Nations on Thursday admitted that over the past three months about USD 1.56 million of aid money for victims of Cyclone Nargis has been lost to Burma's distorted foreign exchange mechanism.

Daniel Baker, the UN humanitarian Coordinator in Burma in press statement said, "The loss in value due to foreign exchange for the Cyclone Nargis international humanitarian aid during the last three months has been about USD 1.56 million."

"We are not getting the full value of dollars donated for emergency relief, and donors are extremely worried and keen to see that this issue is resolved," Baker added.

Baker's remarks in the statement came weeks after the UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes, after his second visit to Burma in late July, said there is a 'significant problem' in the exchange mechanism and that the UN has lost an estimated USD 10 million of aid money.

Holmes told reporters that he had raised the concern of the international community with the Burmese government on the foreign exchange regulations and urged it to resolve it.

Sources said the Burmese military regime has been lining their pockets with aid money through a twisted foreign exchange mechanism.

While aid money transferred to Burma are received in hard currency, the Banks, run by the government remits the money in Foreign Exchange Certificate (FECs), which it treats as equivalent to the US dollar.

But in the market, FEC is valued at Kyat 870, while US dollar is valued at 1170 Kyat.

On Friday, according to the statement, the Burmese Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Soe Tha met members of the TCG to resolve the problem of the exchange mechanism.

During the meeting, which included the UN Resident Coordinator and the Humanitarian Coordinator, the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister and TCG Chairman Kyaw Thu and an ASEAN representative, Dr. Puji Pujiono, Soe Tha said the Burmese government has an alternative to solve the problem.

"We do have alternative ways for the international humanitarian community, including international NGOs, to bring in dollars and to get the full dollar value of their assistance" Soe Tha told the meeting.

Soe Tha said the UN agencies could avoid loss from the FEC by employing dollar-to-dollar direct bank transfers to the vendors when purchasing humanitarian goods and services.

"It will then be up to the vendors to manage their dollar accounts," he added.

The Burmese minister also confirmed that the vendors will have no obligation to convert the dollars into FECs or local currency neither will there be an obligation for the international humanitarian community to commission particular vendors.

But the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, the principal bank in Burma that is used by several aid agencies to transfer aid money, on Thursday told Mizzima that they are continuing to give customers in FEC while withdrawing their money which are transferred abroad.

"We treat the FEC as equivalent to the US dollar and give customers the same amount. But we deduct 10 per cent from the amount as tax," the official, who did not wished to be named told Mizzima.

Bishow Parajuli, the UN Resident Coordinator and TCG member, welcoming the Burmese government's effort, said, "This mechanism would hopefully help us to address the bulk of the problem very quickly, and we appreciate that the government has been willing to work with us on a solution."

However, critics said the UN has long known of the discrepancy in the Burmese foreign exchange mechanism even before the international community rushed in to the country to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.

An observer in Rangoon said the UN fully knows of the twisted foreign exchange system that the Burmese government has been using but it chooses to remain silent.

The source at the MFTB said, there is no reason for the UN not to know about the loss of at least 10 to 15 per cent on every dollar transferred to Burma.



Emergency relief still a far cry for many cyclone survivors
by Solomon
Wednesday, 06 August 2008 22:12

New Delhi – Three months after the killer Cyclone Nargis ravaged Burma's coastal region, emergency relief and early recovery assistance is still a far cry in many places, the United Nations said.

"Delivery of sufficient relief material and early recovery assistance remains a challenge, particularly in hard-to-reach areas of the affected Ayeyarwady [Irrawaddy] delta," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Tuesday.

All humanitarian groups need to continue their support to ensure that basic needs of the most vulnerable sections of the community and restoration of livelihoods are addressed, the UN said in a statement.

"We still need more funding from donors for emergency relief operations and early recovery efforts," said Laksmita Noviera, spokesperson of UNOCHA in Burma.

The UN has received 41 per cent of the total US $ 481 million that it had flash appealed for, but it is still short of US $ 285 million, the UN said.

"We need more support in different areas and in different clusters, one of the main needs in the agricultural sector," Noviera told Mizzima.

Meanwhile, a volunteer in Irrawaddy's Bogale Township said a lot of survivors are still struggling to find help as they are faced with severe food shortages.

"Today (Wednesday) around 300 villagers came to us and requested us for food but we have already finished everything," the aid worker told Mizzima.

He said with many local volunteers and donors stopping their donation, cyclone survivors are facing severe difficulties in finding food to sustain themselves.

"We have seen a lot of villages having trouble getting enough food," he said.

According to the UN, food is urgently required to help 924,000 survivors for over the next nine months. So far more than 25,600 tons of food assistance has reached 684,000 survivors.




Private donations for cyclone victims in Burma petering off
by Zarni
Thursday, 31 July 2008 22:22

Rangoon - Three months after the killer cyclone lashed Burma's coastal regions, survivors said aid from private donors is slowly petering off, though a few international aid groups are still seen operating.

A university student in Rangoon, who has been actively involved in collecting donations and helping survivors, said collecting donations has become extremely difficult as donors are weary.

"Earlier, we had a lot of people coming up to donate, but now it seems that people have become tired as time passes," said the young man, who on last Sunday went to the delta and donated about 200,000 Kyat (US$ 170) worth of aid materials.

He added that unless they are able to generate more funds from donors he and his small group might have to stop their aid operations.

A boatman in Rangoon division's Kun Chan Kone township said he had noticed few private donors coming to help survivors, while only a few international non-government organizations are seen.

"As far as I have noticed, private donors have become fewer these days," said the boatman, who regularly transports aid workers from Kun Chan Kone to Dedaye Township in the Irrawaddy delta.

Another local aid group led by the famous Burmese actor Kyaw Thu is also reportedly ceasing its operation for the month of August due to severe shortage of funds.

Kyaw Thu in an interview over telephone told Mizzima, "We are halting our operations for the month of August because of shortage of funds."

The actor, who also heads the Free Funeral Service in Rangoon, said his group operated on their own donations as well as funds from other generous donors.

"Now that three months have passed, donors seem to be tired and are getting back to their usual business. So it is difficult to get funds," Kyaw Thu added.

Dr. Myint Oo, a medical doctor in Rangoon who is also actively involved in social work, said with aid groups focusing on reconstructing and rebuilding the lives of survivors, private donors think that their role in supplying emergency relief is over.

"They [private donors and volunteers] tend to leave the task of reconstruction to NGO and INGOs and seem to think that their role is over," Dr. Myint Oo told Mizzima in an earlier interview.

Impacts on Survivors

But the impact of the decline of private donations, volunteers and social workers are being borne by survivors, who after three months are still not in a position to stand on their own with out aid.

A village elder in Dedaye Township told Mizzima that they have enough stocks of rice until September, as they were given by an international aid group, Save the Children.

But he said, there is no other way of self-generation of food, as the rice that they have just completed planting will only yield by January next year.

"We don't know what to do after this stock of rice is finished," said the village elder.

The villagers in Dedaye Township are some of the lucky survivors of the cyclone as they have enough stocks of rice until September, but in other parts of the delta several villagers said they do not have enough to eat everyday, as it is difficult for aid groups to reach them.

A villager in the township of Bogale said, he and his fellow villagers have to go to Bogale town and look out for aid groups to help them as no aid groups could reach them.

"We have to come almost every week to ask for food," the villager told Mizzima over telephone.

An aid worker in Bogale town, who has been helping the villagers meet aid groups including World Vision, said, "I received many villagers from several different villages and helped them meet donors."

He said with the decline in private donations and volunteers several villages in Bogale Township remain out of reach.

Weather factor

With incessant rain since last week, a University student from Rangoon, who visited a village in Dadeye Township last Sunday, said their boat was flooded by the waves and nearly capsized.

"All relief materials that we brought got wet, but luckily we survived," she added.

The university student said the deteriorating weather conditions could also be a major factor for private donors to stop going to the delta to help survivors.

Additional reporting and writing by Mungpi


More funding required to help cyclone victims: private donors, volunteers
by Mungpi
Monday, 28 July 2008 21:56

New Delhi — Burmese private donors, volunteers, and social groups, during their first informal meeting on Monday, said there have not been enough support and funding to help the cyclone victims both during the emergency relief and during the reconstruction phase.

The issue of funding shortage was raised at an informal meeting held at the American Centre in Rangoon among Burmese private donors, volunteers, social groups and international aid agencies.

"Most of the private donors, volunteers and socials groups have all said that there has not been enough support both during the emergency phase and the reconstruction phase," Dr. Myint Oo, a private doctor, who is one of the organizers of the event said.

Dr. Myint Oo said the event was planned to facilitate the exchange of information and experience sharing among those who have been helping cyclone victims in Burma's southwestern coastal divisions of Rangoon and Irrawaddy.

During the meeting, most aid workers and volunteers said their experience shows funding from the international community is less and not enough to help cyclone victims.

"It is amazing to see a lot of Burmese volunteers, and small groups springing up in the wake of cyclone Nargis and extending a helping hand to survivors," Dr. Myint Oo said.

He added that these groups have played crucial roles from providing food to cyclone victims to burying corpses caused by the cyclone since day one. Following the onslaught of Cyclone Nargis on Burma's coastal divisions on May 2 and 3, the country's military rulers initially were reluctant to allow international aid groups to come in to help the victims.

Only after nearly a month, following the negotiation between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Burma's military Supremo Snr. Gen. Than Shwe in mid-May, did the Burmese generals open their doors to let in aid groups to the rescue of cyclone survivors.

"But there has not been enough donations and funding to help all the victims," Dr. Myint Oo, who has also been involved in social activities, commented.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in early July revised its flash appeals for Burma's cyclone victims, asking for a total of US $ 481 million.

But according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Burma, they have been able to raise less than half or US$ 187 million of the total flash appeal.

Mark Canning, the British Ambassador to Burma, who was one of the speakers for Monday's event, 'Forum on International Relief effort', said his government was committed to provide more funding to help the cyclone victims to recover.

"Mark Canning said the UK would further provide additional assistance to help the cyclone victims in reconstructing and rebuilding their lives," Dr. Myint Oo told Mizzima quoting from Canning's speech at the meeting.

Dr. Myint Oo said while the Burmese private donors, volunteers and aid workers have been useful in the initial stages in providing emergency relief such as food and shelter, after nearly three months, the cyclone victims' needs were more of reconstructing and rebuilding their lives.

"This calls for long-term rehabilitation that could only be affordable by the government and international aid groups," said Myint Oo, adding that most Burmese private donors could not afford to continue helping the cyclone victims as they would have to return to their normal work.




Food top priority for Burma's cyclone victims
by Mungpi
Friday, 25 July 2008 23:22

New Delhi - Nearly three months after the killer Cyclone Nargis played havoc in Burma's southwestern coastal region, hundreds of thousands are still not getting enough food, the United Nations World Food Programme said on Friday .

"The situation remains dire in Myanmar [Burma] ," said Chris Kaye, WFP's Country Director for Burma on Friday. "The vast majority of families simply don't have enough to eat."

Kaye said hunger is a huge threat and that comes in the way of victims concentrating in other fields of reconstruction and rebuilding their lives.

"Hunger remains a very real threat, and if people are hungry, they can't focus on restructuring their livelihood," Kaye said.

In response to the crisis, Kaye said, WFP is scaling up its emergency feeding programmes for 924,000 beneficiaries, which will last till next April.

Kaye, however, said WFP is facing a 52 percent shortfall of its US$ 112 million operation despite the recent contributions made by the United Kingdom and Australia.

A local volunteer in Rangoon, back from a visit to rural villages in Bogale township of Irrawaddy delta, told Mizzima that she had witnessed several villages that are without any assistance.

"There are several villages in Bogale Township alone that have no assistance so far," said the volunteer, adding that the aid is "simply not enough" to reach all the survivors in the Irrawaddy delta.

"Villagers of Aye Chan Thar told me that the only assistance they had received was seeds from the government and unfortunately these seeds do not sprout," she added.

According to the volunteer, though several humanitarian groups including several UN agencies have been deployed in Burma's Irrawaddy and Rangoon division to help cyclone survivors, much more is needed to reach all the affected people.

"People are still struggling for basic food," she added.

The volunteer, who also extended her visit to Kyauk Than Township in Rangoon division said, though farmers in many places are seen working in their fields, many of them said their expectations were poor.

"They told me the yield this year would not be sustainable even for them because they do not have enough seeds to sow," the volunteer said.

Cyclone Nargis that swept Burma on May 2-3, not only left 138,000 dead and missing, but also destroyed most of the seeds needed for this year's plantation.

While the government and a few other aid groups provided seeds to farmers, several farmers said many of the seeds received as assistance failed to sprout, making it unfit for plantation.

Farmers in Kyauk Than are apprehensive of lack of food in the near future as they cannot plant rice as much as they used to, due to unavailability of seeds, the volunteer said.

"They cannot afford to buy the seeds from the market, so all they can do is plant only as much as is available," she added.




UN relief chief admits to "loss" of aid money in exchange duplicity
by Mungpi
Friday, 25 July 2008 21:12

New Delhi - Over two months on after relief efforts, the United Nations has perforce admitted that there is a 'serious issue' involved in the conversion mechanism of the aid money provided to Burma's cyclone victims.

The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson, Michele Montas, on Thursday said John Holmes, the UN humanitarian chief, has acknowledged that there are problems in foreign exchange rate while converting aid money provided for relief work.

"There are losses implicit in the gap between the street rate and the official 'Foreign Exchange Certificate' rate," Montas told reporters in New York, adding "Aid agencies and donors alike are concerned about this because fewer services can be purchased."

Montas said, Holmes, who is on a three-day visit to cyclone-stricken Burma, raised the issue with the Burmese government during a meeting.

"They understood the problem and they will find a way to resolve it, though no further details have been given by the government," Montas said.

The UN Humanitarian Chief's admission of the problem in the exchange rate came after sources in the military establishment revealed to Mizzima that the Burmese generals are lining their pockets with aid money through a twisted currency exchange mechanism.

The source, who wished not to be named for fear of reprisal told Mizzima, aid money transferred to Burma has to go through the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, which then pays the recipient in 'Foreign Exchange Certificate', where the junta creates notes equivalent to US dollar.

While the street rate for a US $ is 1180 kyat, FEC is worth only 880 kyat, the source said.

"For every dollar, the junta is profiting about 200 to 300 Kyats, you can imagine how much they will have pocketed since aid agencies made their way into Burma," the source told Mizzima earlier.

The source further said, in order to keep the hard foreign currency, the MFTB has made a regulation that every recipient needs to open an account with the bank before being allowed to withdraw the money in FEC.

According to Inner City Press, a UN watch-dog group, the UN looses about 20 percent of what it can buy with the hard currency dollar due to the government's official exchange rate.

Holmes, in an interview with the German Press Agency in Burma, said the exchange rate gap amounts to losses of millions of dollars and "where that gain goes I'm not sure."



Cyclone donors should set up monitoring body: HRW
by Solomon
Thursday, 24 July 2008 22:49

New Delhi - The New York based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged donors helping Burma's cyclone victims to form an independent monitoring body to ensure that their relief material is not manipulated by the repressive Burmese regime.

Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director, in a statement, said with the complex nature and exceptional challenges faced by the donor community in funding, implementing, and monitoring humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Burma, donors should establish an 'Independent Monitoring Body.'

"This body should be co-managed by the donor community and the United Nations to ensure the integrity of the reconstruction and humanitarian effort, and to provide transparency and accountability in the effort," Adams added.

"We believe that such a body could help ensure that all relief to Burma is transparent and reaches the right people," said David Scott Mathieson, HRW's Burma consultant.

HRW, in an open letter to donors, said they should consult affected communities, monitor reconstruction efforts, to avoid working with Burmese officials under international sanctions and to establish an independent monitoring body.

Mathieson said such a body will help in balancing all the sides, and "then the aid donors would feel more confident in giving money."

He added that it is important for both donors and victims to have such a monitoring body to ensure that there are no irregularities on the part of the Burmese military junta, also known as State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and see that the money goes to the right people in the right community.

Recently, the Australian government pledged to contribute a further US$ 30 million and New Zealand US$ 2 million for relief and reconstruction work in Burma's Irrawaddy delta.

Mathieson said transparency and accountability of relief distribution could help in raising funds from donor countries as it will be clear to all on how the funds are being used.

"We have concerns that there could be corruption [on aid distribution] or irregularity that's why we call for an independent monitoring body," said Mathieson.

The HRW also urged donors to use reconstruction projects to promote human rights in Burma, to agree on basic principles of aid and to press the Burmese military junta to adhere to them.

"For many years, Burma's generals have hindered rather than helped the delivery of aid," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch in the press statement.

"Basic principles should be agreed upon by donors, and they must press the government to adhere to them every step of the way," added Adams.

The HRW condemned the Burmese junta for arresting several local aid workers and volunteers who are helping cyclone survivors in the Irrawaddy delta.

In early June, the junta arrested and detained a well known Burmese actor and comedian Zarganer, and a former sports journal editor Zaw Thet Htwe, while they were distributing aid and helping cyclone victims.

Besides, the junta also arrested several other volunteers including Ma Sizar, Ko Zaw, Tin Maung Oo, Ma Ni Moe Hlaing and Toe Kyaw Hlaing who were helping cyclone survivors.

While condemning the arrest, Mathieson said the monitoring body should investigate into such arrests and bring about transparency, and apply internationally followed norms in aid distribution.

"We believe that if this monitoring body is created there could be more room for credibility and reaching part of the US$ 481 million," Mathieson said.



Discrimination over aid distribution among cyclone victims: new report
by Solomon
Wednesday, 23 July 2008 21:44

New Delhi – Discrimination is evident in distribution of aid, with many victims of Cyclone Nargis still not getting adequate relief material being disbursed by international aid groups including the United Nations agencies, a new report said.

The new report, 'An Alternative Assessment of the Humanitarian Assistance in the Irrawaddy Delta', released by an independent Burmese researcher, said even more than two months after the cyclone, several victims in remote areas are still struggling in the absence of proper aid supplies.

Ko Shwe, author of the report, said he travelled extensively to cyclone-hit areas, particularly to Laputta and Ngaputaw townships in Burma's southwestern Irrawaddy delta. He said there is lack of proper coordination among aid groups including local nongovernmental organizations.

"In some places there is overlapping of relief supplies," Ko Shwe, a Burmese environmentalist based in Thailand, told Mizzima.
o Shwe, in his report, said there is a lack of strategic coordination amongst UN agencies, international agencies and local groups including local NGOs and social groups, in the delivery of relief, data collection, impact assessment and information sharing, which is leading to overlapping in relief distribution.

The report said there are questions of accountability, transparency in aid distribution as it is often conducted through junta-backed civil organization – the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).

"It is questionable how much aid is actually being delivered to the affected communities," Ko Shwe said.

According to an aid worker in Laputta, who spoke to Mizzima earlier over telephone, most aid distribution, done through the government, is carried out by members of the USDA, who are giving priority and help its members affected by the cyclone.

While the government has assigned several national companies to construct houses in the affected areas, the report said it is unclear who will be provided with these houses and villagers in Laputta townships are seen repairing and reconstructing their own houses with locally available resources.

The report is the first alternative assessment after the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment released its report on July 21, and aims at highlighting the plight of cyclone victims after two months.

"My idea is solely to bring to light the plight of the victims two months after the cyclone and to remind that there are groups left without adequate support," Shwe told Mizzima.

Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes, who is in Burma to assess the relief and rehabilitation situation on Tuesday said, though much has been done to help the cyclone victims, there is still need to reach vulnerable groups in remote areas.

"We must focus now on reaching the most vulnerable communities in remote areas, especially along the southern coast of the delta," Holmes said in a statement released on Tuesday by the UN.

Holmes, who is visiting Burma for the second time since Cyclone Nargis struck the country in May, will meet key Burmese humanitarian actors, as well as Burmese Minister for National Planning and Economic Development and Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

Holmes is visiting the country after witnessing the launch of PONJA report in Singapore, which is expected to attract more donations from donor countries.

Following the release of the PONJA report, the Australian government has pledged to donate another US$ 30 million while New Zealand said it will give US$ 2 million for reconstruction and relief in cyclone affected areas in Burma.

Sarah Finney, Public Affairs Officer of AusAID told Mizzima that the funds will be used to help women, children and displaced persons.

"We are already committed to provide funding," said Finney.

According to the PONJA report, Cyclone Nargis has caused damage to the tune of US$ 4 billion and relief work for cyclone victims in the next three years will require US$ 1 billion.



UN Humanitarian chief visits Burma to assess post-cyclone situation
by Solomon
Tuesday, 22 July 2008 21:42

New Delhi - John Holmes, United Nations Humanitarian relief chief, on Tuesday arrived in Rangoon and immediately left for Bogale town in cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta to survey post-cyclone humanitarian assistance, a UN spokesperson in Rangoon said.

Laksmita Noviera, spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Burma said, "He [Holmes] is already here and he has left for Bogale and he will return to Rangoon later this afternoon."

Holmes, who is in Burma on a three-day visit, will meet Burmese Minister for National Planning and Economic Development and Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Noviera said.

Holmes is visiting Burma a day after overseeing the release of the UN-spearheaded latest report on the post-cyclone situation in Burma's Irrawaddy and Rangoon division.

On Monday, the Tripartite Core Group, consisting of the UN, members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Burmese military government released a new report by the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment.

The report said the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis that lashed military-ruled Burma on May 2 and 3 is about US$ 4 billion and will require at least US$ 1 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Dr. Anish Kumar Roy, Special Representative of the ASEAN Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan, in Burma said, the report helps the donor countries to understand the extent of devastation caused by the cyclone.

"Now the donor community knows exactly what is needed. That is important," Dr. Roy said.

While the new report on Monday does not include fund raising, Dr. Roy said, donors can now use the report as a credible document to view the extent of damage and start donating for the reconstruction.

Noviera said so far the UN has been able to raise a total of 39.6 per cent or US$ 187 million out of the revised appeal of US $ 481 million made on July 10.




Damage caused by Cyclone Nargis US$ 4 billion
by Mungpi
Monday, 21 July 2008 22:14

New Delhi - Cyclone Nargis that lashed Burma's southwestern coastal divisions on May 2 and 3 has resulted in damage to the tune of an estimated US $ 4 billion, according to a new report by the UN and Southeast Asian Nations.

The Post Nargis Joint Assessment report, by the Tripartite Core Group, formed with the United Nations, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Burmese military government, was released on Monday at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Singapore.

According to the report the estimated damage of US$ 4 billion includes US $1.7 billion in damage to assets and US $2.3 billion from loss of income of the victims.

The report said the cyclone left 84,537 dead and 53,836 missing and injured 19.359 people while impacting the lives of 2.4 million people out of a population of 7.35 million living in the affected townships.

The report, which is the first comprehensive analysis of the damage caused by the cyclone, said recovering from the cyclone devastation will require more than US $ 1 billion.

While welcoming the release of the report, Human Rights Watch said, it is imperative to turn the report into a mechanism to help the suffering cyclone victims in Burma.

"The important thing is getting aid and assistance for development to the affected people," David Scott Mathieson, HRW's Burma consultant, told Mizzima.

During a press briefing, the UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes, told reporters that despite all the developments that aid groups including the UN had made the relief phase is not yet over.

"While significant progress has been made to date, we are still in the relief phase in this aid operation," reports quoted Holmes as saying.

Holmes, the highest ranking UN humanitarian official in-charge of relief operations in Burma's cyclone devastated areas, is scheduled to return to the Southeast Asian country to see for himself the progress made so far in cyclone affected areas.

George Yeo, Singapore's Foreign Minister, reportedly told the media that it was a relief to know there are no starvations and no major outbreak of diseases. "But there is need for help -- we need money, we need assistance," Yeo was quoted as saying.


FAO triples appeal for aid
by Mizzima News
Friday, 18 July 2008 22:21

New Delhi - The United Nations food agency on Thursday stepped up its appeal for aid to US$ 33.5 million for farmers in Burma's main rice producing region devastated by Cyclone Nargis, since 75 per cent of the farmers in the area do not have seeds necessary for the paddy sowing season.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it needed to increase the aid appeal to help farmers in Burma's Irrawaddy delta, where the production of rice is likely to plummet up to one-third this year. FAO had earlier appealed for US$ 10 million in aid.

The FAO said the stepped up appeal for aid is to help cyclone-affected households in restoring their livelihood and to resume food production during this crucial period.

"With a reduced rice harvest unlikely to meet the needs of the affected population, food security will depend on providing support to farming households with alternative crop strategies," said Anne M. Bauer, Director, FAO Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division, in a statement released on Thursday.

Beside leaving 138,000 dead and missing, the UN agency said, Cyclone Nargis had flooded over 783 000 hectares (1.9 million acres) of rice paddy fields and destroyed nearly 90 per cent of seed stocks.

"Present yield rates, coupled with the loss of draught animals and power tillers, indicate a reduction of 550 000 tonnes in paddy harvest, or 32 percent of production in the most-affected areas," FAO said.

The cyclone also affected more than 100,000 fishermen, with significant losses of boats and fishing gear and destroyed more than 21 000 hectares of aquaculture ponds.

"Vulnerable groups requiring immediate assistance include over 50 000 small-scale farming households and 99,000 landless rural households," FAO said.



Fund raising concert to be held in Canada
by Solomon
Friday, 18 July 2008 20:59

New Delhi - In solidarity with Burmese cyclone victims, students from Trinity Western University of Canada and Canadian Friends of Burma are planning to hold a musical concert on Sunday, organizers said.

Organize by former CFOB's member and Canadian University Student Monique Summerfield with the help of CFOB and Canada Trinity Western University student the musical concert at Firemen's Park off Mountain Rd in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada.

"Monique Summerfield is a well known activist on Burma, since more emergency funds are needed now she is organized this event," said Zaw Wai Kyaw, one of the organizers and Chairman of the Cyclone Relief Committee told mizzima.

The concert will be grace by special guests including well known Reggae singer Jah Pickney, Davy B and The Tranzend experience, Zaw Wai Kyaw added.

Zaw Wai Kyaw and Tin Maung Htoo, executive director of CFOB will also present speeches on Burma and the current situation after Cyclone Nargis stuck the country.

All funds collected from the upcoming concert will be donated to 'World Vision Canada', which has its branch operating in Burma's southwestern coastal divisions, helping cyclone victims.

In May 2 and 3, deathly Cyclone Nargis swept through Burma's coastal divisions of Irrawaddy and Rangoon, leaving more than 138,000 deaths and missing. The Cyclone also left 2.4 million people devastating.

"They (World Vision Canada) have sponsored several children in Myanmar [Burma], so there are thousands of Canada sponsored children in Myanmar [Burma]," said James East, regional spokesperson of World Vision in Thailand.

East said, World Vision is looking for long-term relief Programme in Irrawaddy delta but following the Cyclone they have been involved into emergency relief activities.

"At the moment, we have funds for 18 months Programme and then we are also looking at some long term programming," said East.

For the 18 months Programme the World Vision said it has about US$ 20 million and it has so far spent approximately more than US$7 million on relief efforts.

"Obviously we would like to do more if we have more money," said James East.

The World Vision targets to assist 338,000 and so far they have been able to help 280,000 cyclone victims in Burma, East added.





Rice plantation season nearing end, farmers at a loss
by Huaipi
Friday, 18 July 2008 13:46

New Delhi – Though the monsoon rice plantation season is coming to an end, farmers in cyclone-hit Bogale and Labutta Townships have been unable to sow paddy.

Only one third of the farmers from Bogale could revert to farming but most of the others cannot go back to agricultural activities because of lack of capital and farming equipment. Similarly most farmers in Labutta Township could not till their lands due to lack of farm labour because of death of family members.

"Time is running out for this monsoon's plantation season. But two thirds of the farmers in Bogale township cannot till their farms due to lack of money and farming equipment," a paddy merchant from Bogale said.

Farmers in many of these areas are depressed, unable as they are to revert to agricultural activities rendering them unemployed. Many have moved to towns to take up odd and menial jobs, a farmer from Bogale said.

A farmer in Myikakone village, Bogale Township who lost his wife and two children said, "My entire house including the post was washed away. Now I have no place even to lie down, let alone till my paddy field".

Most farmers in Labutta are facing scarcity of farm labour. Only one survived in some families during the cyclone. They have lost interest in work in paddy fields, and are still mourning the loss of family members, a farmer from Labutta said.

"Earlier, entire family members worked in the fields. Now I don't want to go back to my fields," a father of a lone surviving daughter said.

After the deadly Cyclone Nargis, some are suffering from trauma and anxiety disorder. These people lost their homes and families in the cyclone. They are apprehensive of another cyclone, a local Labutta resident said.

Ashley Clements, an official of an INGO, 'World Vision' told Mizzima that as 60% of the farmers from Bogale and Labutta cannot work again in their fields. It is important to feed them and rehabilitate them.

"The most important thing is to set up self-reliance projects and creating job opportunities for them," he said.

The government is selling hand tractors to the farmers in three installments. But these hand tractors have not yet reached all the farmers.

The sale of these tractors is being arranged by the Rice Millers' Association. To get these tractors, the farmers had to produce documents related to housing plot lease grant, land lease grant, garden lease grant and recommendation from their village administrative office.

"I came here for the tractor but I didn't get it as I could not produce the required documents ," a farmer from Setsan village, Bogale said.

Most of the farmers from remote rural areas do not have these documents and they were disappointed when they could not get the tractors, he added.
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Burmese junta profiting from aid funds?
by Mungpi
Thursday, 17 July 2008 21:40

New Delhi - Even as cyclone victims reel under the devastating impact of Nargis, the military rulers are lining their pockets from the aid funds donated by the international community including the UN. The money is being made by way of a twisted currency exchange mechanism – dollar to local Burmese kyat, a source in the Burmese military establishment said.

Following the killer Cyclone Nargis lashing Burma on May 2 and 3, several international non-governmental organizations as well as UN aid agencies rushed in to help cyclone victims.

The source, who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, said the ruling junta is making a huge killing from these donations by keeping a margin in the conversion rates – from foreign currency to Burmese Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC).

According to the source, the government-owned Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank is the principle bank that is used by aid agencies for transferring funds. And when aid agencies withdraw their money from the MFTB, it is given in the form of Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC), which is treated as equivalent to the US dollar.

While the information cannot be independently verified, the source said the difference in exchange rates between the dollar and FEC is the margin that the government makes.

A businessman in Rangoon, who is into exchanging foreign currency in the black market said, currently a US $ is worth 1,175 Kyat while the FEC is valued at 850 Kyat. While the rates continue to fluctuate depending on the market, the US Dollar and FEC have never been treated equally in the market.

"The rate between the FEC and Dollar is only equal in the government exchange rates but here in Burma things are done only in the black market," the businessman told Mizzima.

The source, who is also close to the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, said, while the bank retains the in coming foreign exchange, it also profits from the marginal difference in the conversion.

The UN World Food Programme, one of the largest UN agencies currently involved in helping cyclone victims in Burma, however, declined to comment on it.

But Paul Risley, the WFP spokesperson in Bangkok admitted that it uses the MFBT to transfer funds to Burma.

UN Humanitarian Chief, John Holmes, who is scheduled to visit Burma next week, on Wednesday, told reporters at a news conference in New York that he would look into the issue of aid money going into the coffers of the ruling junta through a twisted currency exchange mechanism.

But reports quoted him as saying, "My impression from what I heard is that there is not a significant problem. There may be moments when the difference between the dollar and FEC is significant, but by and large it is not."

The source, however, said the Burmese military generals have made millions of Kyat from the exchange margin.

"For every dollar, if the junta is profiting about two to three hundred Kyats, you can imagine how much they will have pocketed since aid agencies made their way into Burma," the source said.

Burma's military junta has asked for US $ 11 billion in aid for emergency relief as well as for reconstruction work to be done in cyclone hit areas of Irrawaddy and Rangoon division.

The regime, in an article carried in its mouthpiece newspaper early this month, even challenged the international community particularly the US, UK, French, and Japan for failing to come up with more donations to help cyclone victims in Burma while spending huge amounts of money on wars.

The UN, last week, launched a fresh appeal urging governments to donate US$ 300 million more to keep humanitarian efforts in Burma going.




UN appeals for more donations to help cyclone victims in Burma
by Solomon
Friday, 11 July 2008 21:08

New Delhi – The United Nations on Thursday made a fresh appeal, urging governments across the globe to donate US $ 300 million more to help Burma recover from the devastating effects of Cyclone Nargis, which left more than 138,000 dead and missing.

Laksmita Noviera spokesperson of the UN Coordination Office Myanmar said the fresh appeal was revised and based on the assessment undertaken by the Tripartite Core Group of the UN, Asean, the Burmese government and NGOs.

"Based on the results of the TCG assessment, we now have a clearer or the big picture of the residual needs," said Noviera.

"We are hoping that the donors will continue to support the humanitarian organizations working in Myanmar [Burma]," she added.

The UN on Thursday launched the second appeal for donation to help victims of Cyclone Nargis that struck Burma on May 2 and 3.

The UN received a total of US $ 201 million after the first appeal and made a revised appeal based on the assessment conducted by the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment teams, said Noviera.

PONJA, which comprised 38 teams, conducted an extensive survey covering over 250 cyclone affected villages in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions. It released an initial report in the end of June. But the full report is to be released on July 20-21.

Burma's military government had requested the international community including the UN to provide US$ 11 billion for emergency relief and reconstruction work in the cyclone affected areas.

However, the Burmese junta, which initially restricted movement of international aid agencies, including the UN, to help cyclone victims, failed to receive the requested amount.

Ironically, the junta in its mouthpiece newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, on Friday attacked several developed countries for spending more on wars but failing to respond to the humanitarian crisis including Burma.

The article in the state-run newspaper said, the US in the Gulf War in 1991, spent 650 million dollars in the first day, 80 billion dollars on the 43-day air-army operation, and about 100 billion dollars in total for the whole war.

In response to US request, Japan contributed 10.7 billion dollars, Germany, 6.6 billion dollars, and Australia, 250 million, the article added.

"Powerful countries have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. How much will they spend on rehabilitation of victims of Cyclone 'Nargis'?" the paper asked.

Despite its accusations, the Burmese regime disallowed US, French and British aid ships from entering its coast. The aid ships, which carried aid supplies including helicopters, withdrew after waiting for nearly a month.

The Burmese military junta welcomed aid supply but not international aid workers until the United Nations Chief Ban Ki-moon persuaded Burma's military Supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe on May 23 to relent.

Though the United Nations said it needed more funding, the international community's response to its appeal is positive as it has been able to obtain about 75 percent after the first appeal.

"I don't think it is a slow process because the first appeal brought in 75 per cent… I don't think it is a slow process," Noviera said.

< style="font-weight: bold;">Additional £17.5 million by DFID to help Burmese cyclone survivors
by Solomon
Thursday, 10 July 2008 20:44

New Delhi - United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) on Wednesday announced that it will provide an additional £17.5 million to help cyclone victims, adding to a total of £ 45 million in aid since Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma two months ago.

David Leslie, spokesman of DFID said the donation will be handed over on Thursday during a United Nations' flash appeal in New York to aid groups working in Burma's Irrawaddy and Rangoon division.

United Nations aid agencies as well as several other international humanitarian groups have said emergency relief works and reconstruction programmes could come to halt unless more funds are provided.

The United Nations World Food Programme has said it requires US$ 28 million more to keep its six-month programme running.

The International Federation of Red Cross on Wednesday said it needed US$ 72.5 million to fund its three-year relief plans which will include emergency relief as well as long term reconstruction programmes.

Alistair Henley, head of the IFRC's Asia Pacific Zone said hundreds of thousands of Burmese people in the Irrawaddy and Rangoon division have been living precarious lives long before the cyclone hit them.

"Nargis has left them weaker and more vulnerable than ever. We must ensure not only that they regain what they lost but have improved and safer lives in the future," Henley said.

Leslie said, the DFID has decided to provide additional funds as a response to the flash appeal by the UN and international humanitarian groups.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of DFID, in a statement on Wednesday said, "While access has improved and the rate of delivery of relief goods continues to increase, we believe that around 300,000 people are at quite serious risk if they do not get more help soon."

Leslie said, "We will wait and see what the flash appeal contains today, and then we will make an assessment where the money will go."

"We have assessment teams in Burma, they are looking at where the fund is needed for each organization," he added.

On May 2 and 3, Cyclone Nargis hit Burma's coastal divisions of Irrawaddy and Rangoon, leaving more than 138,000 dead and missing and devastated over 2.4 million people's lives.

Following the natural disaster in Burma, DFID immediately announced £5 million in aid and an additional £12 million on May 15. The DFID announced a further £10.5 million donation following the ASEAN/UN pledging conference in Rangoon on May 25, which Douglas Alexander attended.

Burma's military government, however, has appealed for US$ 11 billion in aid to fund emergency relief works and reconstruction in the cyclone affected region.





Reconstruction work of Maung Weik Co. falters
by Mizzima News
Thursday, 10 July 2008 20:24

Chiang Mai - The arrest of young business tycoon Maung Weik has thrown a spanner in the works in the reconstruction contract given to his company - Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd - in Cyclone Nargis-hit Kyaiklat town.

Though officials of Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd. at Lanmadaw Townhsip in Rangoon city are refusing to answer queries, local residents said reconstruction works in Kyaiklat has been affected by the arrest of the businessman.

Burma's military rulers have assigned Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd a contract to conduct reconstruction works in Kyaiklat, as it does with other companies for different regions devastated by the cyclone.

But local residents in Kyaiklat and journalists said the company was rarely seen conducting any reconstruction works.

The junta assigned over 30 companies, most of which are their business cronies, to undertake reconstruction work in cyclone-hit regions in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions.

The junta also appointed several of its Ministers and Mayors to oversee the work. Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd was assigned to Kyaiklat Township along with Shwemarlar and Thawdarwin Companies.

Activities of Maung Weik Co Ltd. has been drastically reduced after their boss Maung Weik, age 35, was arrested in connection of trafficking and abusing ecstasy drug (popularly known as 'Gaungkharsay'), local residents and journalists said.

His company officials, however, refused to provide any information on the case.

Meanwhile, several companies assigned for the reconstruction jobs are reportedly reluctant to undertake the venture as there has been no indication of recovering their expense and no sign of any 'business opportunity' from the government.

Maung Weik, the billionaire tycoon, donated rice to the cyclone victims of Hleseik village in Kyaiklat Township on May 25, before his arrested on May 31.

Sources said in connection to his arrest, his close friends Aung Zaw Ye Myint, son of Lt. Gen. Ye Myint, and Burmese popular actress Nawaratt were interrogated.

However, after revealing all about the drug case to the investigators, Aung Zaw Ye Myint, was reportedly sent to the Wettikan drug rehabilitation centre in Upper Burma, while Nawaratt was released.

Sources said, several other Burmese celebrities including actors, actresses, and singers were also interrogated in connection to the drug trade and abuses.

Following the mess, Burma's Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Khin Yi, on June 26, during a rare press conference in Burma's new jungle capital, Naypyidaw, clarified reporters that no artistes and celebrities were currently under detention in connection with the drug case.

But the Myanmar Times journal, a privately owned Weekly, which has both English and Burmese version, on Thursday reported that a Malaysian national is among the six co-defendants in the case along with Maung Weik.

The Weekly said a case has been registered against a Malaysian national, Peter, Maung Weik, Aung Min, Nay Tun Lwin, Kyaw Phone Naing, Kyaw Hlaing, and Ohn Thee (alias) Kyaw Win at Lanmadaw police station in Rangoon for trafficking and abusing Ecstasy, Stimulants, Ketamine drugs.



WFP faces fund shortage, awaits international pledging
by Solomon
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 21:07

New Delhi – Faced with an acute shortage of funds, the United Nations World Food Programme is hoping an international appeal would help it continue its operations in providing succour to cyclone survivors in Burma.

"Right now we still need about 28 million dollars for continuing emergency operations to provide food to 750,000 affected people for over six months," said Paul Risley, spokesperson of WFP in Bangkok.

WFP said it requires a total of US$ 69.5 million to provide emergency support to victims of Cyclone Nargis that lashed Burma's southwest coastal regions two months ago, leaving more than 138,000 dead and missing.

Risley said the UN is planning to launch an international appeal next week both in Geneva and New York, asking for more funds from donor countries to assist in both emergency relief and reconstruction work.

"That (international appeal) is expected to attract more contributions and donations from donor governments to the Programme," Risley told Mizzima, adding that the current donations received for emergency relief and reconstruction work is below the target.

Burma's military rulers in May appealed for US $ 11 billion for emergency relief and reconstruction but according to the UN an overall donation of just over US $ 200 million has been received so far.

As part of an international response to Cyclone Nargis that left more than 2.4 million people devastated, the Tripartite Core Group, consisting of members of Southeast Asian Nations, Burmese government representatives and representatives of the UN, on June 20, concluded an initial assessment.

"That assessment probably will be very helpful in determining how long food should be provided both by WFP, the government or other NGOs," said Risley.

While the TCG released an initial report, the full report of the assessment is yet to be submitted.

Meanwhile, the UN food agency said it has received permission from the Burmese government to import rice from neighbouring Thailand.

An insider close to the Burmese military establishment earlier told Mizzima that the junta had restricted the WFP from buying rice locally as they fear that UN food agency's rice purchase might result in shortage of food in the local market.

"Since WFP is purchasing huge quantities, the government fears that rice may run short in local markets and that it might lead to a rice price hike," the source said.

The source said the junta feared that a price hike might anger the common people, who are reeling under an unprecedented natural disaster, and eventually ignite a political upheaval, in the backdrop of palpable political tension.

However, Risley denied that the government had imposed any such restriction on the WFP and said it has allowed buying rice locally.

"We have received permission to purchase rice [locally] and we have done it. It will arrive soon from Thailand and will be apart of our food distribution," said the WFP spokesman.

"There is rice available in Yangon [Rangoon]," said Paul Risley. However it has started purchasing rice from Thailand.




Over 400 orphans still search for parents: UNICEF
by Solomon
Tuesday, 08 July 2008 21:53

New Delhi - Two months after the deadly Cyclone Nargis ripped across Burma's southwestern coastal divisions, more than 400 children are still frantically searching for their parents, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

The UNICEF, in its report '60 Days response to Cyclone Nargis' said, as of end June 428 separated and unaccompanied children have been traced.

Zafrin Chowdhury, spokesperson of UNICEF in Rangoon said, "15 have been reunited with their parents, but as for the others we are still trying to trace their parents."

UNICEF said while it is focussing on finding family members for separated children, the process is largely hampered by the movement of refugees from their temporary shelters back to their villages or from one location to another.

"At present, efforts at tracing the families are being intensified with support from partners," the UN agency said.

Education

While tracing families for separated children is being intensified, the UNICEF said education for other children is one among the major concerns as many of the children cannot yet attend schools because several schools have been severely damaged or destroyed.

According to the UNICEF, over 4,100 schools have been damaged by the cyclone that ravaged Burma's Irrawaddy and Rangoon division on May 2-3.

In Irrawaddy delta alone, at least 1,200 schools were totally destroyed and many collapsed in the cyclone, the UN agency said.

"We have helped in the repair of about 1,326 schools," said Chowdhury, but she said there are still a lot of schools which need to be repaired and reconstructed.

"We are providing support with back up temporary learning spaces, tents and material where all school buildings have been destroyed," Chowdhury said.

Health

According to the UNICEF's report, Cyclone Nargis destroyed over 600 health centres and contaminated more than 4,000 drinking water wells.

"The biggest challenge facing the Health Sector is the destruction of Health Centres and depletion of health workers in the affected areas because of deaths," the UNICEF said.

While there has been no large-scale outbreak of water borne or vector borne diseases, UNICEF said cyclone survivors need ORS, antibiotics, infusion, vaccines and vitamin A to protect from any possible outbreak of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue hemorrhagic fever.




Aid groups face soaring rent prices
by Solomon & Myint Maung
Friday, 04 July 2008 21:10

New Delhi - House rents in Burma's cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta has hit an all time high as a result of humanitarian groups including United Nations aid agencies taking based in the area to help cyclone survivors.

A local resident of Laputta town said rent for a simple one flat house has rise to more than 100,000 Kyat (approximately US$ 80) per month from what use to be about 20,000 to 30,000 (US$ 23), after several aid groups have been deployed in the town.

"Usually, house rents are never so high and landlords don't always have people to rent their houses," the local said.

Two storey RC buildings are now being rented at a price of more than 400,000 kyat (US$ 300) per month, said the local, adding that the demand for renting houses is soaring as more non-governmental organizations and aid groups are wanting to take based in the town.

According to him, there are at least 6 International NGOs and several other national NGO beside private donors, taking based in the town.

Two months after the deathly Cyclone Nargis hit Burma's coastal regions, aid workers said emergency relief is yet to be reached to all survivors while reconstruction is just beginning to take place.

According to the UN's World Food Programme it has open warehouses in Bogale, Laputta and Pyapon towns, from which it is redistributing food supplies to cyclone victims.

"Everyday we see a lot of aid workers moving in the town and there seems to be a huge number of them," a teashop owner in Pyapon town told Mizzima.

While helping cyclone survivors, humanitarian groups including the UN aid agencies do not only meet with soaring high price rents, but are also having to deal with the high cost of logistic support including renting of vehicles and boats to carry aid supplies.

Renting a small boat, which can carry about 30 to 40 rice baskets, cost about 50,000 kyat (US$ 38) per day and large boats that could carry at least a 100 baskets of rice cost about 100,000 kyat (US$ 80), a local aid worker in Laputta town.

He added that renting trucks or four wheeler vehicles is about 10 million to 20 million kyat (US$ 1,500) per month and is only possible for INGOs and UN agencies due to the high rent charges.

Despite the high charges, the aid worker said, both boats and vehicles are being continuously rented as boats and vehicles are the only way to reach to cyclone survivors in remote areas.

"We are renting large boats with 100,000 kyat per day," said the aid worker.




Two months after Cyclone Nargis, condition of survivors still 'critical'
by Mungpi & Solomon
Thursday, 03 July 2008 20:54

New Delhi - Two months after the killer Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma, thousands of survivors said they still lack basic assistance including food, farming equipments and shelter.

"We received only one time support from the Red Cross. They gave us 24 tins (measured in condensed milk tins) of rice for our family," said a farmer with five family members from Paungthe village of Bogale township in Irrawaddy delta.

The farmer said while he did not know how much rice other families received as aid, it was the only help the whole village had seen.

"There are more then 1300 people in our village," the farmer added.

Talking to Mizzima over telephone, the farmer said, he had come to Bogale Town, about 40 miles from his village, with the expectation of help from local as well as international aid groups.

World Vision, a Christian non-governmental organization that has been helping cyclone survivors, however, said humanitarian assistance is getting through to a lot survivors but difficulties remain in assessing how widespread the needs are and how many people are getting aid.

"It's still quite a critical situation but a lot of people are getting the aid that they need," Ashley Clements, spokesperson of World Vision in Burma told Mizzima.

While the immediate need for the farmer and members of his village remain basic food, with the rainy season fast approaching, the farmer said he is also burdened with the fear of missing the cultivation season, which would mean greater disaster ahead.

"I am hoping to find some help from the government in terms of farming equipments as well as some cattle," said the farmer, adding that while there were no human casualties caused by the cyclone in their village, most of the cattle were dead.

"I lost all my buffaloes and cows, which I need to plough the fields before it's too late," said the farmer, who has over 15 acres of farm land.

"If I get some buffaloes, I can still race and finish planting rice within 15 days before the rains start," said the farmer, adding that the plantation period will be over by mid-July.

The World Vision said most farmers in the cyclone hit areas will miss this farming season as a result of lack of equipments to work in the fields.

"I think there is going to be a large number of farmers unable to farm their land this growing season," Clements said.

"So, we need to look at the coming months to support the farmers in finding a way to make a living," Clement added.

The farmer in Paungthe village is not alone in seeking help. An aid worker in Bogale said several survivors from other villages in the Township have often come to town in search of help.

Bogale, one of the worst hit towns in the Irrawaddy delta, where several aid groups are now based, has become a hub for desperate survivors searching for help.

The aid worker, who helped the farmer talk to Mizzima, said, "Yesterday around 30 people came to us asking for food but today another 700 people from more than 30 villages came here.

He said it was more than what he and his group could afford to provide in terms of food and other assistance, as his group is dependent on local and national donors to help cyclone victims.

"We know that there are several villages that have not been accessed but we are helpless," the aid worker said.

Meanwhile in Laputta, another badly-hit town in the Irrawaddy delta, several thousand survivors, who are temporarily staying in make-shift camps, are faced with a renewed threat as the local authority has urged them to shift from their temporary homes.

Dr. Aye Kyu, a physician in Laputta Township who has been helping survivors, said at least 10,000 survivors are living in four camps near Laputta town. And as most of the refugees have no land of their own, it has become problematic for survivors to go back to their original villages.

"They are telling me they will not go back, they will try to continue surviving here by themselves," Aye Kyu said.

According to a local resident of Laputta, who met the survivors, the police have threatened them that no more food would be supplied to them unless they move from the area.

"Two survivors told me that divisional police officers told them to go back to their villages or else they will be forcibly evicted," the local resident said.

Aye Kyu said, the survivors have no homes, face severe problems of food shortage and fear of an impending disaster ahead.