Press Release

 OFID provides US$500,000 grant to Myanmar to aid cyclone victims

13/2008 May 7, 2008 Vienna, Austria
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The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) today approved a grant of US$500,000 to provide essential relief supplies and support emergency operation for survivors of the cyclone that devastated Myanmar. More than 22,000 people were reported killed, another 41,000 missing and up to one million have been rendered homeless.

Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar last week, swept through the Irrawaddy delta region and Yangon, the country’s largest city. The disaster downed power and communication lines, and inflicted major damage to other infrastructure in the city. Many roads are blocked by flooding or fallen debris.

The combined population of the declared disaster areas is around 24 million. Roughly six million live in Yangon, with a significant portion of the inhabitants spread across the delta region. Government has declared a state of emergency. Critical needs include food, emergency health kits, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets and plastic sheeting. Fuel shortages have also been reported. The food security situation in the country, which was already severe, is likely to become more acute.

Relief efforts to cover the in-country response are coordinated by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Also involved are the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Food Program. OFID’s grant will be channeled through UNOCHA.