Cyclone Nargis struck the Myanmar coast (initially crossing the Ayerawaddy Delta area) with winds of up to 200 km per hour on the 2nd and 3rd of May 2008, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
In a meeting with international aid agencies and the diplomatic community on 5 May, government ministers unofficially put the death toll at higher than 10,000. Assessment figures now envisage a number which could exceed 100,000 people.
The cyclone severely affected five divisions: Ayeyarwadi, Bago, Mon, Kayin and Yangon, which have a total population estimated at over 22.5 million people. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people have been severely affected by Nargis and of these, 750,000 people are in need of immediate food assistance.
Many families lost their food stocks and livestock. The loss of crops, shrimp farms, fishing ponds, nursery hatcheries, fishing boats and other productive assets has led to increased unemployment of the extreme poor who depend on wage labour for their livelihood. These numbers are expected to rise further as assessment teams gain access to the most affected areas.
Assessment access has been an extremely limiting factor in preparing a comprehensive response. However, in-country assessment teams have been collecting data which confirms that the magnitude of the disaster in terms of human suffering is of a very significant scale.
Consequently, the rationale for this emergency operation (EMOP) is predicated on a rolling approach: as additional assessment information is obtained and analyzed, this EMOP will be updated as part of this process through budget revisions.
The initial number of beneficiaries is presently estimated at 750,000. This figure is very likely to change once more comprehensive field and needs assessments can be carried out.
The main objectives of this EMOP are to:
The Government of the Union of Myanmar has called on the international community to provide assistance. In response to the humanitarian emergency in Myanmar caused by Cyclone Nargis, a Flash Appeal was launched by the United Nations on 9 May. In the meantime, the first WFP food delivery and distribution for the affected population took place on 6 May and an Immediate Response Emergency Operation (IR-EMOP) of US$500,000 for an estimated beneficiary caseload of 40,000 has been approved.
Additionally, WFP took responsibility to lead the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Assistance Clusters.
The EMOP is in line with WFP Strategic Objective 1, “save lives in crisis situations”; and Strategic Objective 2, “protect livelihoods in crisis situations and enhance resilience to shocks”. It supports the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) outcome on Social Protection and Disaster risk reduction and contributes towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1, “eradicate hunger and poverty”.
