Shutting Down the Blog

Dear all: The Relief resource has served its purpose and now will move gracefully into history. We hope that it was useful to you and encourage you to create your own blogs around topics and current events. 

-- The Team

FCCT announces 2008 Photo Awards

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) is pleased to announce its Second Annual FCCT Photojournalism Awards, the premier photojournalism contest, which is open to all amateur and professional photographers in the Southeast Asia region, including Burma. For details, click here

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International Media Awards for humanitarian and human rights

Applications are being accepted now for articles and other creative works illustrating aspects of human rights, as detailed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Click here for more....

Tripartite Core Group Press Release on Missing Relief Money

The TRIPARTITE CORE GROUP made up of ASEAN, the Government of Myanmar & the United Nations has released a press release on the issue of finding solutions to foreign exchange loss of Cyclone Nargis humanitarian aid. To read the full text of the press release, click here.

Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Assistance Report

A joint publication of Feinstein International Center, Transparency International and the Humanitarian Policy Group, this report is the first product of a program aimed at preventing corruption in humanitarian operations, focusing on the aftermath of both natural disasters and civil conflicts. Published in July 2008, the report examines the risks of corruption in humanitarian assistance as well as how humanitarian agencies deal with corruption issues.

Click here to download a copy of the report.

Alternative humanitarian report on Cylone Nargis relief effort released

A new report- "An Alternative assessment of Humanitarian Assistance in Irrawaddy Delta: situation after 60 days" has now been released. The report was based on an informal, independent assessment and looks at the situation on the ground in the Irrawaddy Delta especially in Laputta and Ngeputaw townships. The report touches on issues such as humanitarian assistance being delivered by the UN and international agencies, the government response to the cyclone as well as ongoing restriction of the relief efforts and social groups' involvement in the relief efforts. To download the report, click here.

For further comments or questions, please email Ko Shwe at thuebee@gmail.com

ASEAN Press Conference to Release PONJA Report

The long awaited Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) Report will be presented to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers when they meet in Singapore on 20-21 July 2008. The ASEAN Chair, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, will preside over the launch of the report in Singapore on 21 July 2008. The report will be released concurrently in Yangon.

Secretary-General of ASEAN and Chair of the Task Force, Dr Surin Pitsuwan said, “We anticipate a comprehensive, credible and viable report based on the objective needs of the victims of Cyclone Nargis; a report that will be useful to help guide the relief and recovery efforts in cyclone-hit Myanmar, so that the medium-term needs of the Nargis victims are sufficiently addressed.”

PONJA is a joint assessment by ASEAN, the Government of Myanmar and the United Nations, with technical support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The assessment relies on two approaches: a rapid household and community survey of more than 290 villages in the affected areas, and an economic assessment of the damage and losses by sector.

For information about attending the press conference and report launch, please contact the ASEAN Secretariat Media Office.

INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies

In 2004, the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies published The Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (MSEE). These standards, broadly agreed to in the international humanitarian & relief community is designed for use in
emergency response and applies in a wide range of situations, including natural disasters and armed conflicts. A draft Burmese language version of the standards is available to download here.

Press Release: ASEAN Ready to Increase Cooperation with the UN for Cyclone Victims

(ASEAN Secretariat, 10 July 2008)NEW YORK – ASEAN remains ready to further cooperate with the UN and its agencies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the ongoing humanitarian efforts for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, said the ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Surin Pitsuwan in New York today.

After talks with Mr John Holmes, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Dr Surin confirmed that Mr Holmes would be attending the release of the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment Report in Singapore on 21 July 2008.

Dr Surin said, “The UN leadership appreciates the support, cooperation and leadership that ASEAN has shown in this issue.”

He added that the UN Secretary-General is also committed to the ASEAN-UN Summit to be held in Bangkok later this year.

Press Conference on revised UN funding appeal for Myanmar

A revised relief appeal for Myanmar/ Burma was launched this morning by John Holmes, the top United Nations emergency relief official. The 'Cyclone Nargis Response Plan' seeks $481.8 million, $280 million more than the amount sought in the initial 9 May Flash Appeal. For more information about the press conference today, click here.

Updated USAID/ OFDA Fact Sheets

USAID's Office for Foreign Distaster Assistance Fact Sheet and Program Map detailing recent developments in the humanitarian effert is now available.

To download Fact Sheet #24 please click here.

To download the accompanying Program Map, click here.

Updated information can also be found on the USAID Website.

Child Protection PSA's now available

A number of public service announcements/ radio spots with a selection of Burmese language messages on child protection for cyclone affected communities are now available to download by clicking here.

ASEAN Press Release: No discriminatory policy towards the media in Burma

(28 June 2008, ASEAN Secretariat) ASEAN does not have a discriminatory policy toward the media or in any other matters. The report in The Irrawaddy titled “Burmese journalists banned from ASEAN Press Conference” dated 25 June 2008 erroneously pointed out that a media conference was held on 24 June 2008 by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan. Dr Surin did not hold a media conference, even with the ASEAN media.

Dr Surin said, “Myanmar was persuaded into inviting the ASEAN media in time to cover the ASEAN Roundtable on the Post Nargis Joint Assessment preliminary report and for the field trip to inspect the extent of the damage and destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis on the Irrawaddy Delta.”

The Secretary-General of ASEAN said, “The world is still very sceptical of our joint efforts. The international community is very critical of ASEAN and UN engagement with Myanmar even on humanitarian grounds. This has to be balanced; the view cannot be left uncorrected.”

Dr Surin added, “We all share a common concern – to help the Nargis victims. The ASEAN media could play an important role here and indeed, they did play such a role, reporting on the extent of the damage to the Irrawaddy Delta and the needs of the people.”

Press Release: ASEAN S-G views cyclone damaged areas

(ASEAN Secretariat, 26 June 2008) The Secretary-General of ASEAN and Chair of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, today saw first hand the extent of the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar. Dr Surin traveled by helicopter to visit the township of Bogale, Set San village and Kyein Chaung Gyi village in the Irrawady Delta.

In Bogale, he was briefed on the extent of the damage to the township and the recovery efforts underway there. He also visited a high school and a hospital. Dr Surin also saw the temporary shelters set up in Set San and Kyein Chaung Gyi to house the victims of Cyclone Nargis as well as the temporary schools set up there.

Dr Surin said, “To see how they suffer is a heartbreak. To observe how they refuse to surrender and their determination to rebuild their lives is certainly an inspiration.”

Dr Surin added, “What ASEAN can do is to help these unfortunate people of the Irrawady Delta get back on their feet quickly. Township-focused, village-based approaches could be appropriate. For reconstruction and long-term integrated planning for the entire Delta, that will have to wait for the international community to come together and decide together.”

The visit was held a day after the 3rd meeting of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force in Yangon to review the work of the Tripartite Core Group and the next steps forward following the ASEAN Roundtable on Post Nargis Joint Assessment on 24 June 2008. Accompanying Dr Surin during today’s visit were the ASEAN media, who had been invited to cover the meetings and field trip.

Updated Fact Sheet available from USAID/OFDA

The USAID/OCHA Burma Cyclone Fact Sheet #22 is now available to download by clicking here.
To download the accompanying Program Map click here.
Both documents are dated 25th June 2008.

Tripartie Core Group press release available

The Tripartite Core Group (TCG) was formed after the 19 May 2008 ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, and the 25 May 2008 ASEAN-United Nations International Pledging Conference in Yangon, Myanmar. The TCG aimed to act as an ASEAN-led mechanism to facilitate trust, confidence and cooperation between Myanmar and the international community in the urgent humanitarian relief and recovery work after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar (2 to 3 May 2008). To read their first press release, dated 24 June 2008, click here.

Announcement: U.S. Military Air Lifts to Burma conclude

The US Embassy in Thailand issued the following statement this morning.

"The U.S. military airlift of cyclone relief from Thailand to Burma ended on June 22. Since May 12, Joint Task Force Caring Response flew 185 C-130 sorties from Thailand, carrying tarps, mosquito netting, food, zodiac boats, water treatment equipment, and a range of other relief supplies, including Thai donations. The estimated cost of the supplies and operation is over $13 million USD. The excellent cooperation we received from the Thai side made this relief effort possible. Coordination and cooperation with other donors, including WFP, was also outstanding."

ASEAN Press Release: World Bank grants 850,000USD to Secretariat

The ASEAN Secretariat received a US$850,000-grant from World Bank on Monday for disaster assessment and recovery activities in cyclone-hit Myanmar. Dr Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat and Mr Joachim von Amsberg, Country Director for Indonesia, World Bank signed the grant agreement Monday afternoon. To read the press release, click here.

UN Press Conference: Update on UN humanitarian assistance to Myanmar

The United Nations system in Bangkok will hold a press conference at which officials from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will speak on the preliminary findings of their recent assessment of Myanmar's agriculture sector in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

For more information, please contact :
UN Information Services
Tel.: +66-2-288-1861-9; Fax: +66-2-288-1052
Email: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

Unofficial Burmese translation of SPHERE Minimum Standards in Disaster Response available

An unofficial Burmese translation of the internationally recognized SPHERE Minimum Standards in Disaster Response can be downloaded by clicking here.

The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. Sphere is based on two core beliefs: first, that all possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising out of calamity and conflict, and second, that those affected by disaster have a right to life with dignity and therefore a right to assistance. Sphere is three things: a handbook, a broad process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability. The project has developed several tools, the key one being a handbook.

For more information about the SPHERE project and to access key documents in English visit www.sphereproject.org