By Chris Webster, World Vision Relief Communications Manager, Cyclone Nargis

• Communities rebuild with limited resources and great resilience
• Need still desperate for both relief and livelihood/agriculture rebuilding
• Summary of World Vision’s achievements to date

One month on from the devastation of Cyclone Nargis, affected communities are finding the resilience to survive and rebuild with assistance from aid agencies and local organisations.

On Friday, a team of international relief specialists from World Vision’s Global Rapid Response team headed into the Ngapudaw region of the Irrawaddy Delta to assess existing programmes and future needs for the people there.

World Vision cyclone response manager Steve Goudswaard said afterwards he was amazed by the extent to which communities were pooling their resources to move forward.

“One village we visited had been completely flattened,” said Goudswaard. “They lost 237 out of 603 people there. The tragedy of the impact was etched on their faces but people were already rebuilding with whatever they could find.”

“They were mapping out where their homes would be rebuilt, and cleaning out contaminated water points because they knew how important clean safe water was.”

Communities are still in desperate need according to Goudswaard. Some need emergency distribution of food, clean water and shelter. Others need seeds and tools to help them get crops in before the end of the planting season in July.

“The community are the first responders in any emergency,” said Goudswaard. “In the Delta, they are working with local organisations, especially monasteries, and aid agencies to help protect their own lives and start building for the future.”

“World Vision are working in partnership with them too, to help provide what they need now and in the months to come.”

The humanitarian community has seen an increase in access for staff and supplies since the agreement between UN, ASEAN and the government of Myanmar, but still faces challenges in scaling up.

Access is still restrictive for international staff who are required to apply days in advance for permission to enter the Delta.

As well, a much clearer picture of the situation on the ground is needed, so that NGOs can partner more effectively to plan a community-led response.

Physical conditions still pose a major challenge with poor transport and infrastructure blocking access to many communities in need.

To date, World Vision staff have concentrated on the immediate needs of survivors, with food, shelter, clean water and child protection among the main priorities. Despite the difficulties in reaching affected communities, World Vision has provided assistance to over 250,000 people, and hopes to reach nearly half a million with relief and rehabilitation in the first six months of response.

World Vision’s response as of June 1:

• 2,735 tarpaulins in Yangon and the Delta, plus water and sanitation solutions to more than 95,000 people
• Around 252 metric tonnes of food in 15 townships - 7 in Yangon and 8 in the Delta, including Pathien, Myaung, Mya, Kyaiklat, Pyapon, Bogale, Dedaye and Ngapudaw.
• 44 child-friendly spaces have been established, including 6 in the Delta. World Vision plans to open up to 80 in affected areas. 
• 184 metric tonnes of goods has arrived in Yangon in the last four days, including mosquito nets, water purification tablets and chlorine, tarpaulins, kitchen sets and blankets.
• By June 16, World Vision plans to have delivered around 1000 metric tonnes of goods to affected communities.
• World Vision hopes to remain in affected communities to support rebuilding and livelihood initiatives for up to three years.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Chris Webster, Relief Communications Manager (location Yangon) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   +95 9510 4369