New Delhi (Mizzima) - Relief and recovery work for Cyclone Nargis affected victims in the delta region of Burma is insufficient and there remains much work to do, said a United Nation's official in Rangoon.
"Tremendous efforts have been made in supporting the affected population. However, there is still a lot to do," said Bishow Parajuli, UN Resident Coordinator, during a Tripartite Core Group (TCG) roundtable held in the former capital of Rangoon on Wednesday.
The TCG comprises high-level representatives from ASEAN, the Burmese regime and the UN. Yesterday it convened a roundtable in Rangoon to review the post-Nargis relief and recovery work in many areas in Irrawaddy Division.
According to the TCG's press release on Wednesday, 63 percent of the UN's Revised Appeal of US$ 473 million has been raised in the six months since Cyclone Nargis struck coastal regions of Burma.
However, the TCG stressed that the group is in need of further funds for relief and recovery work.
Parajuli said, "As of now, the early recovery sector continues to experience a significant shortfall in funding."
Meanwhile, relief aid provided to Nargis affected people in Bogale Township is less than before, while several villagers in Lapputta Township are reportedly facing a shortage of food.
"The help we received is not as much as before. Only a few aid agencies remain in our area," a local from Bogale Township said.
A local from Laputta Township added, "It has been almost three months since we received any food from relief agencies or the government. The people are now facing a shortage of food in our area."
According to a relief worker in Bogale, there are at least 20,000 villagers from around 90 villages in the southern and western areas of Bogale Township who depend on fishery related work for survival that are presently unemployed – as they have received no fishing equipment to permit them to return to sea.
"Half the population of villagers in Bogale is unemployed, as they lack equipment to restart fishery related work," a relief worker in Bogale commented.
A villager from Bogale said that though unemployed fishermen tried to work in paddy fields to meet the present difficulties they face, farm owners were unable to pay wages and asked them to leave the fields.
Parajuli also stressed that the relief fund to assist farmers in cyclone affected areas also is still not enough.
"Agriculture in particular continues to be the least funded sector, with only 24 percent of the requirement met," the UN official said.
Moreover, the rate of paddy production in Bogale areas is also less than in previous years, as most farmland is still unfit for cultivation.
"Before, farmers from a village cultivated paddy in around 500 to 1000 acres of land, but this year only 500 acres is cultivable," a local from Bogale said.
Meanwhile, a local from the town of Phyapone said the government had provided some tractors and chemical fertilizers to farmers in villages in Phyapone Township.
"The government has helped the farmers by allowing the tractors to be used and providing chemical fertilizers," according to the local.
At the roundtable, Parajuli told representatives that cooperative work is necessary to carry out the task in the sectors of shelter, the rebuilding of schools and health facilities, community infrastructure, agriculture and more.
"Critical elements today are in the sectors of water, shelter and livelihoods, including agriculture. Continued collaborative efforts and support are key to success in the challenges ahead," noted Parajuli.
Cyclone Nargis struck the delta region of Burma in early May, killing over 130,000 people and rendering over 2.4 million survivors in need of food, shelter and other basic needs.
