Burma |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Cyclone
OFDA Response:
Emergency relief assistance
Latest OFDA Report:
Burma Cyclone Fact Sheet #3 (49kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Cyclone, 05-05-2008
On May 2, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Irrawaddy Division of Burma with a maximum sustained windspeed of approximately 132 miles per hour (mph) and a storm surge of 12 feet. The cyclone then continued east-northeast and caused extensive damage in the city of Rangoon. As of May 5, the Government of Burma (GOB) had reported at least 4,000 deaths and 93,000 people displaced, but these figures were unconfirmed. The cyclone disrupted communications, electricity, and water services in Rangoon and destroyed 20,000 houses on Haing Gyi Island, according to the GOB. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the cyclone destroyed 95 percent of houses in villages along the south coast of the Irrawaddy delta area. The GOB declared a state of emergency in Bago, Irrawaddy, and Rangoon divisions and Kayin (Karen) and Mon states.
On May 5, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Shari Villarosa declared a disaster due to the impact of the cyclone. Also on May 5, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $250,000 to the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), U.N. World Food Program, and Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for emergency relief assistance.
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