One year after Cyclone Nargis devastated the Ayeyarwaddy Delta in Myanmar, more than one million people have received support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), but enormous challenges remain in restoring livelihoods and water sources, building shelters and schools, and in providing psychosocial support to traumatised survivors.
“One of our most important roles is helping disaster-affected populations to take part in securing their own future well-being,” says Bernd Schell, the head of the country office for the IFRC in Yangon. Schell notes that “our livelihoods and emotional recovery programmes aim to engage and empower the affected communities to fully participate in rebuilding their lives.”
The IFRC and Myanmar Red Cross Society are providing shelter to thousands of families, as well as implementing a wide variety of “cash-for-work” programmes, where beneficiaries earn income while restoring destroyed roads, bridges and jetties. These projects and the beneficiaries are chosen in cooperation with the communities.
“Many survivors have had little opportunity to earn an income since the cyclone, and they struggle with debts. The cash-for-work programme is supplementary until farmers, fishermen and casual workers can get back to making a living,” Schell continued.
He also noted that shelter remains a major priority. “It is estimated that 20 per cent (100,000 families) of those whose homes were destroyed, still live under tarpaulins,” he said. “Tens of thousands more live in temporary, sub-standard shelters, which will not be able to withstand another storm.”
Although the IFRC has made progress in restoring water sources and water catchment systems, they estimate that only 50 per cent have been repaired. This means that many survivors will face water shortages during the next dry season.
In addition to livelihoods, shelter and water supply projects, the Myanmar Red Cross Society and the IFRC are implementing an extensive psychosocial support programme that helps survivors to deal with stress and trauma after experiencing personal losses. Upto 600 villages have been reached thus far and the programme continues.
The Cyclone Nargis emergency appeal, launched on 6 May 2008, has raised 68 million Swiss francs (USD 60 million/Euro 40 million) including cash, in-kind donations and pledges. Through end of February, expenditures totalled nearly 33 million Swiss francs (USD 29 million /Euro 22 million). Reconstruction efforts and integrated community-based programmes are expected to continue through April 2011.
In May 2008, more than 200,000 people lost their lives in Myanmar and China after the devastation wrought by Cyclone Nargis and the Sichuan earthquake. These two tragic events occurred within a week of each other and alone accounted for more than 90% of worldwide fatalities caused by natural disasters last year.