More than three months after cyclone Nargis wreaked devastation throughout Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta, many people remain vulnerable and traumatized. However, those affected have also displayed resilience, surviving the aftermath with no disease outbreaks to-date and beginning reconstruction within their communities.
Many organisations are now working in the delta and there is adequate assistance available. As a result, MSF is increasingly able to focus on providing healthcare and psychosocial care as needs demand.
MSF continues to closely monitor the nutritional situation and has found worrying numbers of children under 5 years at risk of malnutrition in the areas of Bogaley, Setsu and Pyapon. Food supplements (therapeutic foods) are provided for those moderately malnourished and to other vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
As the emergency cyclone response comes to an end, we are handing over many of our activities, including all general food distribution, to the relevant organisations. We continue to distribute a number of non-food items; including family kits, mosquito nets, buckets, toolkits, blankets and a one off money distribution and provision of water and sanitation also continues.
MSF expects to hand over all cyclone response programmes by the end of the year. MSF will remain in the country as before, responding to the huge medical needs of the population that are largely un-met by either the government or other external assistance.