CWS appeal update: Myanmar (Burma) cyclone Nargis long-term rehabilitation

12 Jan 2009 21:07:00 GMT
CWS appeal update: Myanmar (Burma) cyclone Nargis long-term rehabilitation
Source: Church World Service-USA
Website: http://www.churchworldservice.org
Thursday, January 8, 2009

As 2009 begins, relief efforts continue as the latest stage of the response to Cyclone Nargis moves forward. Nargis struck Myanmar (Burma) on May 2-3, 2008, and killed more than 84,530 persons. More than 53,000 are still reported missing.

As 2009 begins, relief efforts continue as the latest stage of the response to Cyclone Nargis moves forward. Nargis struck Myanmar (Burma) on May 2-3, 2008, and killed more than 84,530 persons. More than 53,000 are still reported missing.

Relief and early recovery assistance to Myanmar's cyclone-stricken Irrawaddy Delta region continues to reach more survivors, with strong coordination efforts by Church World Service and its Action by Churches Together partners. While initial efforts helped save destroyed farms and provide much-needed rice, a longer-term response is required to ensure food security and other permanent recovery into the future.

CWS Response In the crisis phase, a key, local CWS partner delivered 4,249 water baskets including water purifiers and 73,124 tarpaulins. CWS also supported assistance for a jointly-funded farm recovery project, which provided rice seeds, fertilizers, tillers and diesel fuel for 55,912 farm households in 572 villages.

The current long-term rehabilitation phase addresses agricultural and economic recovery and disaster preparedness programs, including improving household food security and reducing dependency on food aid. CWS will support dry season agricultural programs that provide seeds, fertilizers and equipment to ensure villages struggling to recover can continue to make gains in the new year.

The CWS-supported program will also ensure season-long wage employment for landless households. In all, more than 38,011 landowning households will benefit from agricultural assistance, and wage assistance will help provide income to another 44,000 landless laboring families. As well, a program of school construction will be undertaken.

The program is in three parts: I -Agriculture

The CWS local partner will support 70,000 households in the cyclone-affected areas that depend on agriculture for sustenance. Beneficiaries include a mix of landowning households (50,000), small-farm households (15,000) and small-plot farms (5,000).

Beneficiaries may receive one or more elements of assistance based on their farm size:

Hand power tillers. CWS's local partner provided 740 hand power tillers for early monsoon recovery rice cropping activities. This current livelihood rebuilding project will provide an additional 20 hand power tillers. Each tiller will receive one month's worth of diesel fuel (100 gallons) that will enable the preparation of 100 acres of paddy per tiller. Rice and other seed. Most dry season rice farmers will be able to use the short-term varieties provided during the monsoon season as the source seed for their dry season paddy. Additionally, as some farmers are able to grow a secondary crop in the off-season, black gram or green gram seed will be provided to help farmers enhance their income. Fertilizer. Each of the targeted farmers will receive fertilizer, depending on size of the land used. Irrigation pumps. Diesel and manual-powered water pumps will be distributed. In appropriate cases, a minimal amount of diesel fuel will be provided for powered pumps. Vegetable seeds. Small household vegetable growers will be surveyed in selected townships and villages to determine the 10 most appropriate vegetable crops desired by farmers. Vegetable crops are likely to include cucumber, chili, long bean, okra, gourds, eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage and leafy greens. Flower seeds and fruit tree seedlings will also be offered. Based on farmers' choices, CWS's local partner and Myanmar (Burma) agricultural officials will determine the most suitable varieties. Seeds will be provided to farmers in small commercial packets. Seed to cultivate 0.25 acres of vegetable will be provided. The CWS livelihood rebuilding program will also provide five months of wage employment for an estimated 44,000 landless families.
II - Disaster risk reduction

Cyclone Nargis has pointed out the need for integrated disaster risk reduction measures across the cyclone damaged zone. When Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar (Burma), the community experienced a huge loss of lives as well as property including public buildings such as schools. This loss could have been lessened if the community was more aware of the risk of such disasters, how to prepare for and respond to them, and how to better construct buildings.

Another CWS partner operating within Myanmar (Burma) has received government permission to provide training on disaster risk reduction and preparedness. The trainings are expected to reach 110,400 individuals, addressing capacity building for community-based disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction activities; community-based disaster risk management, school safety and enhanced building practices.

III - School reconstruction

UNICEF data indicate Dedaye, in the southwest Irrawaddy Division, was one of the worst-hit areas in terms of destruction of school buildings. There are nearly 200 schools that were affected by the cyclone. Only 28 schools have been rebuilt, leaving 172 schools yet to be rehabilitated.

Schools are used for services beyond education in Myanmar (Burma). Communities use schools as gathering places and as emergency shelter during disasters; therefore, the demand for rebuilding schools is high.

Realizing the limited support to this area compared to the high needs of students for education, CWS and its partner will intervene by rebuilding some primary schools. Apart from rebuilding of some schools, CWS will also provide school kits and uniforms for students.

Officials with the CWS partner and area leaders in the Dedaye community have already started construction on a few school buildings. In this school reconstruction process, arrangements have already been made with school principals that the schools communicate directly with the Ministry of Education Representative in the area and obtain the necessary permission for the reconstruction.

The CWS partner's initial plan is to reconstruct 10 schools in the Dedaye area. Each primary school has an estimated capacity for 120 students, with a maximum of three partitioned classrooms. Each primary school has a maximum of five teachers, paid by the community.

Some 1,200 students will benefit directly from the building of these schools and in addition, 600 teachers will also earn a living. Indirectly, as schools will be used as community shelters, at least 10 communities (around 4,000 households) will benefit indirectly from the school building.