FROM THE FIELD
Myanmar, July 18, 2008 - Monday's launch of an assessment into the conditions facing Myanmar's cyclone-affected communities is expected to highlight the urgent need for livelihood recovery activities. The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) is being launched on the 21st of July in Yangon and Singapore.
International NGO, World Vision, has been providing food aid, shelter material, safe drinking water, and conducting child protection activities in response to the cyclone aftermath.
Livelihoods recovery a crucial need
The findings of PONJA are expected to highlight the need to get people back on their feet through livelihood support, a cornerstone to recovery. The findings reflect World Vision's long-term response, as the aid agency focuses on livelihood interventions.
"As we look beyond the initial relief response," says World Vision's Response Manager, Judy Moore, "it's critical that we support those affected to get back on their feet earning an income once again."
Farmers lost tools, animals, and seeds in the disaster which struck the Ayeyawaddy Delta and Yangon Division. World Vision has already been providing hand tractors and fuel to farmers in Bogolay Township. Many fields were inundated with salt water and without de-salinating the fields or obtaining salt-resistant seeds, planting will be difficult.
"This season's planting period is coming to an end," said Moore. "For those farmers that are unable to plant in time, support will be needed for months to come."
World Vision is particularly concerned about landless farming families who are likely to be among the most vulnerable.
"Those who are landless or own just a small plot of land are the hardest hit," said a World Vision Field Manager, who has been in the Delta since May. "With very limited job opportunities and ruined rice paddies, they are very concerned about what the future will hold," he continued.
He added that although some Delta farmers had managed to plant, despite very limited resources, many did not expect much from this planting season. ''They plant to eat, not for income," said the Field Manager.
May's Cyclone Nargis was one of the worst natural disasters to affect a single country in decades. Some138,000 people were left dead and missing, and a further 2.4 million were affected.
Assessing the impact
Before offering more financial support for the response to Cyclone Nargis, governments and international donors demanded a comprehensive assessment into the conditions facing those affected.
In answer to this call, the PONJA was conducted with the support of the Government of Myanmar, ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the United Nations, and NGOs responding to Nargis, including World Vision.
World Vision is currently responding to the disaster, and will continue to do so as part of a multi-year programme. Priority will be given to livelihoods recovery, including agricultural development and economic diversification.
World Vision programmes will also prioritise water and sanitation, and child protection activities.
For further information please contact: Ashley Jonathan Clements in Yangon for interviews at: +95 95 104 369 and visit: http://wvasiapacific.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
