Asean to End Nargis Aid

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) announced at the seventh meeting of the Asean Humanitarian Task Force (AHTF) in Hanoi on Monday that it will end its recovery assistance in Cyclone Nargis-affected regions in Burma by July.

However, relief groups including some nongovernmental organizations inside Burma said more than 500,000 Cyclone survivors in affected Irrawaddy and Rangoon Division still lacked shelter and work.

A skull is seen last year in a shallow makeshift grave along the water in the Irrawady delta village of Tha Ma Thukha. (Photo: Getty Images)

In preparing for ending its humanitarians operation in July, Asean will accelerate aid delivery to affected people and transfer the coordination role of assistance for post-Nargis recovery efforts to the Burmese government, according to the Asean statement.

Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of Asean, said: “While the AHTF will end its operations in Myanmar [Burma] in July 2010, the recovery process for many survivors of Cyclone Nargis will take many years.

“The newly-launched Periodic Review III observes that many gaps are still not met, in sectors  such as shelter, livelihoods, and water and sanitation. It is, therefore, critical that Asean accelerates the delivery of assistance to quickly address the pressing needs of the people.”

Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy Delta and Rangoon Division on May 2-3 in 2008, leaving more than 140,000 dead or missing and affecting more than 2 million people. 

Surin also addressed the need to document the lessons learnt from its humanitarian operation in Burma and to continue its coordination role until July 2010 to alleviate the suffering of Nargis-affected communities and ensure a smooth handing over to Burma. 

Observers say many survivors will be left out of the recovery process after July even if Asean vows to complete its recovery plan. The aim to accelerate the recovery process is probably a part of election preparations aimed at making sure foreign workers have to leave the country,  they suggest.  

Together with the humanitarian community, Asean appealed for an additional US $103 million to address the pressing needs faced by Cyclone Nargis survivors in November 2009.
As of 28 Feb 2010, total pledges had increased to US $91.3 million, and a total of US $38.57 million had been received by either trust fund or implementing partners, according to the statement.