Finances lacking in post-disaster Myanmar

Sat, 10/04/2008 11:35 AM  |  World

JAKARTA: The needs of Cyclone Nargis' victims in Myanmar are still great and increased financial support is needed for aid work to continue, a group supervising the post-disaster response has said.

In a press release sent to The Jakarta Post, the Tripartite Core Group said almost half of the requirements of the revised UN Flash Appeal of US$482 million remained unfunded.

Established in May and comprising high-level representatives from Myanmar's government, ASEAN and the UN, the group said there were concerns of a potential water scarcity in the coming dry season because of the increased salinity of pond water (due to the cyclone) and the far-below-average rainfall.

It also said more than 33,000 metric tons of food had reached more than 733,000 affected people. An estimated 2.4 million people were affected when the cyclone hit the military-ruled nation. --JP

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