MYANMAR (May 04, 2009) – Last Saturday marked one-year since Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, killing over 78,000 people with another 56,000 still missing.
While public attention on the emergency has long faded, the recovery of lives and livelihoods continues, despite ever-growing obstacles.
A year after the disaster, those people who had lost everything have been dealt another blow, as failure of recent rice crops have left many without a livelihood or even enough to eat; 85% of the total population are dependent on this harvest for income, food or both.
“One year on, the effects of Cyclone Nargis are still acute in Myanmar. An 80% loss in the December harvest means food distribution must continue. People require major support to rebuild their livelihoods and still need basic humanitarian assistance” says CARE CEO Dr Julia Newton-Howes. “This huge loss has dire implications for the recovery of those people in the Irrawaddy Delta who were already the most vulnerable.”
Since Cyclone Nargis struck, CARE has provided vital assistance to 304,265 people in 195 villages; however the humanitarian need remains great. The loss of most of last year’s harvest means people don’t have the resources to buy the seed and fuel needed to start planting again.
As a result there is increasing food insecurity and malnutrition in the Irrawaddy Delta.
The poorest people in the delta sell their labour to farmers but, with no crops to plant, they now have no income.
CARE is giving significant assistance such as seeds, hand tractors and fuel to help farmers meet the costs of planting the next harvest but, major concerns remain as the current global economic crisis, combined with the lower than expected funds available from the UN appeal ,place huge pressure on the ability of agencies to respond.
“While it has been a year since Cyclone Nargis took lives and livelihoods from the people of Myanmar, a perfect storm of circumstances has left millions of people in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta teetering on the edge of yet another emergency. The people need support now more than ever”, says Dr Newton-Howes.
To help CARE support those most affected in Myanmar visit your national CARE website.
To arrange an interview with CARE CEO Dr Julia Newton-Howes, or CARE Myanmar Country Director Brian Agland contact, Roslyn Boatman, [email protected]
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agencies. Working side by side with poor people in 72 countries, CARE helps empower communities to address the greatest threats to their survival. Women are at the heart of CARE’s efforts to improve health, education and economic development because experience shows that a woman’s achievements yield dramatic benefits for her entire family. CARE is also committed to providing lifesaving assistance during times of crisis and rebuilding safer, stronger communities afterward.