Burma Rescue

Only half of Myanmar cyclone aid fund delivered

YANGON, Myanmar: Only about 50 percent of funds needed by the United Nations to help Myanmar after the devastation of Cylone Nargis have so far been contributed, the U.N. said Wednesday.

The U.N. sought a total of US$482 million from member states and other organizations five months ago in the wake of the May 2-3 cyclone, but it has managed to collect only US$240 million, the organization's Yangon office said in a statement.

Cyclone Nargis, the worst natural disaster in the country's modern history, killed more than 78,000 people and left another 56,000 missing, according to the government.

It affected 2.4 million people living in Yangon and the important rice-cultivating Irrawaddy delta — yet agricultural recovery has been the one of the least-funded sectors, said the statement.

The top U.N. representative in Myanmar, Bishow Parajuli, said funds were still needed to provide support as its aid efforts move into the rehabilitation phase after the immediate needs of the emergency.

"People and communities have been severely affected. It will take a long time until the needs are met," Parajuli was quoted saying.

The U.N. said more than 33,000 tons (metric tons) of food had reached over 733,000 people affected by the cyclone, and outbreaks of waterborne diseases and dengue fever in the cyclone-affected areas had been successfully prevented.

The U.N. statement was issued on behalf of the Tripartite Core Group, established at the end of May to coordinate international assistance. The group comprises the Myanmar government, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations.