Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar on May 2-3, 2008, over one month ago. The United Nations estimates that 2.4 million people suffered severe losses, 1.4 of whom lived in the Irrawaddy Delta area. The government estimates a death toll of about 77,000, while the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates over 101,000 deaths. The number of missing is 55,197 and the registered number of wounded is 19,400.
According to the information released by the International Office for Jesuit Relief Services (JRS), the OCHA made a preliminary estimate on May 22 that showed that 110,000 people were living in temporary establishments in 14 different towns. 70% of the evacuees have taken refuge in convents, 28% in public buildings, and 2% in tents. According to the UNHCR, there are about one million homeless.
The United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates one million children that are in need of emergency aid and protection. As the international aid organizations have only obtained limited access to the area affected by the cyclone, the on-site staff has been conducting aid operations in the rural areas.
Through the Caritas network, the Church is supporting friends in Myanmar with donations, being permitted to distribute food supplies and medical assistance in the area. The situation on the borders is being monitored to avoid any unusual movement in the crossing of the border. There is also a significant amount of ethnic minority groups in the region struck by the cyclone. The local Church has asked the Birman government to respond without any prejudice to the needs of all the people in need and to help them to re-build their lives as soon as possible and if needs be, with international aid. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 6/6/2008)
