Review more articles
World Vision's response as of August 1, 2008:
On May 5, 2008, World Vision declared a Category III Emergency in response to Cyclone Nargis - the organisation’s highest alert level. Within days of the disaster, World Vision Myanmar was responding with essential relief supplies and support for thousands of those affected.
World Vision’s Nargis response is currently covering the following locations in Yangon Division where we have long-term Area Development Programmes (ADPs): Hlang Thar Yar, South Dagon, Dagon Seikkan, Thanlyin, Hmawbi, and Kyimyintaing.
World Vision’s response in Ayeyarwaddy focuses on: Bogale, Dedaye, Pyapon, Kyaiklat, and Hyeingyi (Ngapudaw subtownship).
Food security
World Vision has been distributing emergency food aid and monthly food aid packages in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP).
Through our food aid, over 300,000 people have been reached with nearly 2,000 MT of rice, oil, and pulses.
Shelter and household items
World Vision has been distributing temporary shelter kits and tarpaulins across the Delta and Yangon Division.
Locally designed kits were distributed in Yangon, and IFRC standard kits were distributed in the Delta.
Between Yangon and the Delta, 33,000 households have received shelter kits and tarpaulins.
Distributions have also taken place of blankets to 30,000 households, clothing packs to over 23,000 households, and cooking sets to 20,000 households.
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Current activities include the distribution of hygiene and sanitary kits, and hygiene workshops.
Over 20,000 households have been given mosquito nets in the affected communities.
Over 11,000 households have received water containers, and over 8,000 have received various hygiene and sanitation supplies, such as bottled water and water purification packs.
World Vision has also cleaned up 70 drinking water ponds in the Delta, removing saline and contaminated water, improving access to water for over 40,000 people.
Portable treatment plants have been installed, providing clean water to villages across the Delta.
Child protection and education
Eighty four Child-Friendly Spaces are currently operating across Yangon and Ayeyarwaddy, serving over 10,000 children. The provision of psychosocial support, as well as snacks, children kits, and monitoring are ongoing in the spaces.
Tracing and reunification is also taking place for separated children, and protection from potential threats such as trafficking is seen as key. Forty-seven separated or unaccompanied children have been identified and registered for reunification.
Twenty five temporary schools - including furniture, materials, and back-to-school kits - are planned for the Delta. Child protection training is also ongoing, as well as advocacy to raise awareness of the risks of institutionalisation of separated or abandoned children.
Health
Medicines are being distributed in 11 townships across Yangon and Ayeyarwaddy. Eleven existing health structures have been renovated and repaired, in Yangon Division. Plans are underway for renovating 4 sub-regional health centres in the Delta.
Furniture and equipment is being provided to repaired health structures.
World Vision continues to provide basic health education, covering topics such as prevention of diarrhea, personal hygiene, safe drinking water, and sanitary latrines.
Livelihoods
Thirty hand tractors and fuel have been distributed in Bogale Township to serve 300 farmers. Fuel has also been provided where needed.
Accountability
Community feedback and participation mechanisms are being set up, providing communities with avenues and opportunities for regular programme engagement.
Key activities will focus on information provision to communities, information gathering on programme quality, and maintaining regular dialogue with target communities.
World Vision continues to collaborate with the UN and other implementing agencies to avoid duplication and maximise resources.
Advocacy
Identified as priority areas for Nargis-related advocacy are livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, and child protection. Child protection advocacy is currently taking place around family unity and institutionalisation.
World Vision participated in a Department of Social Welfare workshop on ‘Alternative Care’ for local NGOs and religious institutions.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
A joint assessment (PONJA) detailing the conditions facing those affected by May’s cyclone has been released. The report was a joint initiative by aid agencies, the United Nations, the Government of Myanmar, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The report points to significant vulnerabilities and risks which continue to threaten those affected by Cyclone Nargis.
PONJA shows that more than half of all affected households had only one day or less of food stocks left. Nearly 1 million vulnerable persons were found to be in need of food aid until at least November. Eight hundred thousand houses were damaged in the cyclone, with 450,000 destroyed. Up to 60% of public schools were destroyed, according to PONJA.
In all, around US$4 billion in damages were reported as resulting from Cyclone Nargis, with the cost of recovery estimated to be US$1 billion.
World Vision’s focus for the rehabilitation and recovery phase, beginning October, 2008, will be informed by findings from a World Vision comprehensive assessment. Already identified priority areas include livelihoods, WASH, and child protection. Pyapong, Bogale (and potentially Heingyi) will make up World Vision’s priority areas during the rehabilitation phase.
- Total budget: US$ 28,327,171
- Relief budget: US$ 18,689,972
- Rehabilitation budget: US$ 9,637,199
- Project timing: 2 May 2008 - 31 October 2008
- Number of beneficiaries reached so far: 305,000
- Target beneficiaries: 338,166
- Yangon: 188,401
- Ayeyarwaddy: 149,765
