OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Published purpose

On 2 May 2008, Category 3 cyclone Nargis made landfall in southern Burma before moving in a northeasterly direction to hit the capital of Rangoon. The official death toll as of 19 May is nearly 78,000 dead, with 56,000 people missing. The UN estimates that over 2.4 million people have been affected by the cyclone of whom more than half (1.4 million) are in severely affected areas requiring prioritized assistance. Critical needs of the affected population are shelter, water and sanitation, emergency health, and food. The project supports the Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement coordination in its coordination of humanitarian partners at national and local levels. In addition, the project facilitates informed decision making by liaising with all stakeholders and disseminating information/data collected.