Cyclone Nargis â€" One Year On - $47
million funding shortfall for health One year after Cyclone Nargis devastated the Ayeyarwaddy Delta in Myanmar, Merlin is deeply concerned about a funding shortfall of $47 million for
health services. Out of a total amount of USD $53.8 million needed over the next three years to provide health care for the townships most severely affected, only USD $6 million has been
pledged. The cyclone destroyed 130 health facilities, badly damaging an additional 500. Work on rebuilding the health infrastructure has begun but this work urgently needs to be
continued. The Ministry of Health has committed to supporting additional health workers for the delta region, but funding is urgently required to cover the additional costs of training new and
existing staff. This includes community health workers who are particularly important in ensuring access to health care in remote villages, where there are few trained health workers and
facilities. These key community staff form a vital role in providing basic health care and psycho-social support for those most affected by the cyclone. “In recent
years, humanitarian assistance to Myanmar has been on a much smaller scale than that in neighbouring countries,†says Dr Paul Sender, Merlin’s Country Director.
“It is disappointing that this reluctance on the part of donors seems to be returning, particularly when the effects of the Cyclone are still so fresh in the memory of those affected
and when they can still so easily be recognised by anyone travelling through the Delta.†The funding shortfalls are not limited to health. Following a detailed assessment of needs undertaken across the delta in November 2008, a fully-costed recovery plan was developed by all agencies and bodies who had been involved in the emergency
relief effort. The plan, released in February 2009, indicates that only a small fraction of the USD $691 million needed to safeguard the health, well-being and livelihoods of those most affected, has
been pledged. “An integrated, multi-sectoral approach is needed for recovery,†says Dr Kyin Maung Pyone, Merlin’s Deputy Project Medical
Coordinator. “People cannot have good health without access to nutritious food, clean water, shelter and livelihood opportunities.†Donor funding
for Myanmar to date has been sadly lacking in comparison to the needs that exist throughout the country. While there have been challenges to delivering aid in the country, Merlin has been able to lead
an effective, large-scale and accountable response in the delta. Oliver Behn, Merlin’s programme manager for Myanmar says: “Merlin was one of the first
NGOs to respond after Cyclone Nargis, as we already had staff on the ground in Laputta, one of the most affected areas. As the largest international NGO operating in Laputta District, we have been
able to mount a coordinated and integrated emergency response and recovery programme, improving the health and well-being of people for 250,000 people. Commenting on the health funding
shortfall, Dr Pyone adds: “The effects of Cyclone Nargis will persist for years to come. We have to do what we can to improve the health and welll-being of those most-affected. And to
do that, we urgently need commitment to meet these funding needs.â€
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Larry Dinger (L), Charge dÂ’Affaires of the Yangon-based US embassy, hands over rice to a beneficiary at the World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution camp in Gaw Tu Wai Chaung, Labutta ...
