Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone

Questions and Answers

How many people have been affected by the Myanmar cyclone?

According to news reports at 1400 BST 6 May, up to 22,000 have been killed and another 1 million people displaced in five Myanmar regions including Ayewardy, Yangon, Mon State, Bago and Kayin State. In total 24 million people live in cyclone affected parts of Myanmar. It must be stressed, however, that reliable information is very difficult to obtain at this stage of an emergency and that these figures are preliminary.

Has Oxfam Ireland launched an appeal to assist the people affected by the Myanmar cyclone?

Not at this time, as we are still assessing the situation. However, we can accept donations from the public which will support the Oxfam International emergency response.

Other members of the Oxfam confederation, Oxfam Great Britain and Oxfam Novib (Holland) have already pledged an initial £250,000 and €200,000 respectively from their emergency funds to be disbursed to agencies already working on the ground in Myanmar such as the UNICEF and local Myanmar partners – right now that’s the best way we can do to help saves live and assist people in Myanmar.

What are the most urgent humanitarian needs?

Right now the aid effort is focused on saving lives. There is an urgent need to provide affected people with clean water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. There’s also a need for temporary shelter such as plastic sheeting and tarpaulins as well as food.

How many aid workers does Oxfam have working in Myanmar?

Oxfam currently does not run operational programmes in Myanmar. And so its aid effort will be channelled through partner organisations with a mixture of cash funding, technical expertise and equipment where required.

What are some of the challenges the international community faces in responding to this humanitarian emergency?

The aid effort faces huge challenges. Immediate needs are known to be shelter, water, food, food and public health. Some 24 million people live in the areas affected by the storm. Communications are down in the cyclone-hit areas, roads have been washed away and getting aid to people will be very difficult. The international and the national community needs to be both quick to respond to this crisis and ensure the needs of those affected are met.

How long will the aid effort last?

It’s too early to know. But what’s clear is this is a major humanitarian emergency affecting up to one million of the poorest people in South East Asia. The relief phase of the operation is likely to take at least six months followed by a lengthy rebuilding phase.

Can I donate goods in kind to Oxfam such as blankets and medical equipment?

Oxfam does not accept goods in kind. Transporting in kind donations is prohibitively expensive not to mention time consuming. Where possible Oxfam and partners purchase relief items locally to keep costs low as well as to help stimulate the local economy.