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Myanmar

Myanmar: Post-Nargis Periodic Review III

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FOREWORD

Cyclone Nargis, perhaps the greatest natural disaster in the history of Myanmar, struck the coast of the country on 2 May 2008. Moving across the Ayeyarwady Delta and then southern Yangon Division over a day and a half, the storm affected more than 7 million people, who suffered loss of family, home and livelihoods.

Since the tragedy, the Government of the Union of Myanmar (GoUM), the United Nations (UN), local and international non-government organisations (INGOs), local community-based organizations (CBOs), communities and private citizens have made extensive efforts to respond to the needs of the people whose lives were turned upside down by the cyclone. Much of the support continues eighteen months on.

In September 2008, the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), consisting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the GoUM and the UN, initiated a series of assessments or 'reviews' among the cyclone-affected population to gauge relief and recovery efforts, identify people's needs and facilitate strategic decision making regarding further support. The TCG produced the fi ndings from the fi rst assessment in its fi rst Periodic Review report in December 2008 and the second one in July 2009.

A third assessment followed eighteen months after the cyclone to look at the progress of the recovery efforts. This third Periodic Review presents those fi ndings. Prepared jointly by members of the Tripartite Core Group, all Periodic Review reports offer a 'snapshot' of the situation at a point in time among the affected population.

This third Periodic Review, produced from an analysis of data collected between 21 October and 17 November 2009 in worst-affected townships of the Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions, is intended to assist those who have been involved in the relief and recovery effort to assess the progress made by the humanitarian community, and the needs of the affected population.

The third assessment used the same methodology as the previous Periodic Reviews, which was based on the Village Tract Assessment (VTA) conducted in June 2008. The Tripartite Core Group wishes to thank all those involved in the third Periodic Review, and its members hope that this report will enable those involved in the humanitarian response make more informed strategic decisions regarding their assistance programmes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Tripartite Core Group wishes to express its appreciation for the continued participation and contributions of our partners in this essential process of monitoring and assessing the relief and recovery efforts in Cyclone Nargis-affected areas. The ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, the ministries of the GoUM and the agencies of the UN have contributed to the success of the review, as have many national and international non-government and community-based organisations that have engaged in the Periodic Review process (see annex 5.1). The Delta Working Groups also provided expertise in informing the process. We also extend our thanks for the generous fi nancial support from the donor community.

We thank the Periodic Review team members who compiled, analysed and produced the data in this report. We particularly give our heart-felt thanks to all the people in the affected communities for participating in the surveys that form the basis of this report. This report would not have been possible without their contribution.

The Tripartite Core Group gratefully acknowledges the fi nancial support given to the Periodic Review.