New Delhi (Mizzima) - It will take at least four years for Cyclone Nargis affected people to recover despite the large sum of funds planned, according to the country head of the United Nation in Burma.
Bishow Parajuli, the representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told Mizzima by email that recovery of the cyclone affected areas have continued along with the need for fund and support from all communities.
"This (fully recovery) will take some years, say around four years," said Parajuli who has 25 years of experience managing humanitarian and development programmes. However, it will not be possible without the continued commitment and support from all stakeholders, including the authorities of Myanmar and the international community," he said.
The ruling junta changed the country name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989. Cyclone Nargis which lashed Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon in May 2 and 3 killed nearly 138,400 killed and rendered millions homeless.
"Experience of the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, has showed us that after the urgent relief phase is over; recovery efforts are required up to today," said Parajuli. "It is expected that an equal number of years also will be needed for Myanmar."
The Tripartite Core Group (TCG) formed by the UN, Association of the Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and the Burmese government, will launch a three-year recovery plan with an estimated budget of USD 700 million.
"First and foremost is funding. Without money, we cannot assist the people on the ground," said Parajuli, the representative of the UNDP.
UN's last year's revised appeal till April has reached USD 304 million (64%) of the required fund of USD 477 million.
"Challenges remain when it comes to access to clean water for everybody, sustainable shelters, and inputs in the sector of agriculture," said Parajuli who visited Irrawaddy delta recently which accounts for the most affected areas.
The relief workers who continue monitoring the delta said, most survivors especially those living in the remote areas are still far from getting enough supply.
One of the main problems in the delta is the lower number of aid groups because it is difficult to work freely and negotiate between donors and the military government.
"Instead of there being increasing support there were a lot of donor pullouts in the delta," an aid worker said on condition of anonymity.
He argued that giving enough support to farmers and fishermen will be of great help for the survivors to become self developed and could avoid dependence on others. However a lot of them are nowhere near having their needs looked after.
Farmers around Pyapone township in Irrawaddy delta are now in heavy debt due to their failure in producing sufficient paddy to pay back their loan because of saline water having damaged their farms during the cyclone.
