Detaljer om Tsunamiens effekt i Burma

10. januar 2005
PD Burma, som er et internationalt netværk af Burma-interesserede politikere, har samlet nogle detaljer om hvilken effekt flodbølgen har på Burma. Artiklen er på engelsk

BURMA TODAY NO. 19/2004

Dear friends of Burma Last weekend’s disaster has affected Burma, but it is difficult to obtain information on the impact in this country. Burmese authorities will normally censor news reports about disasters, whether natural or manmade calamities. They have, however, reported casualties and destruction in Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) Division, Rangoon (Yangon) Division, Pegu (Bago) Division, Irrawaddy (Ayerwaddy) division, Arakan (Rakhine) State, and in southern Shan State, mostly along the coats line, and caused by the earthquake as well as by the tidal waves.

In November the representative of UNDP in Rangoon stated that Burma is very vulnerable and that any form of external shock could lead to a human disaster.

Number of casualties
UNICEF reported on 28 December that 90 people have been killed and that the figures are expected to rise. A geologist who is familiar with Eastern Burma told me that there is no reason to believe that Burma is less affected than Thailand (and Eastern Burma borders Thailand north of Phuket, which is the worse affected area in Thailand). “Fortunately” the coastline along Tenasserim is sparsely populated. The town of Mergui/Myeik on the mainland seems to have been spared from any negative impact. Concern remains however regarding the situation in the Mergui/Myiek Archipelago (about 800 islands), where the Moken and Salon people (“Sea Gypsies”) live (2-3000 people.

The number of casualties in Burma has been rising since Sunday although figures are still lower than in neighbouring countries: 10 people reported dead (6 men, 4 women) following the collapse of a bridge in Kawthaung, near Victoria Point on the Thai-Burma border (Reuters, 26/12); 51 people reported dead, 25 missing, 45 injured, according to official Burmese sources (Xinhua, 27/12; this is an increase in official figures compared to what was reported at first on www.myanmar.com), 56 people reported dead (The Australian, 28/12), close to 60 people reported dead (Associated Press, 28/12), 90 people reported dead (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs by phone, quoting Agence France-Presse, 28/12). We lack information about fishing boats that were out at sea at the time of the tidal waves. The sea outside Tenasserim Division is an important fishing ground for local fishermen as well as for large fishing boats from Thailand and Burma.

Regions affected
The worse affected regions are reported to be Tenasserim Division bordering Thailand in Eastern Burma and Irrawaddy Division as well as Arakan State in Western Burma. The lack of information from Irrawaddy Division should be of concern for three reasons: Topography: This is a flat delta area (irrigated rice cultivation) that would be vulnerable to tidal waves. It is located north/northeast of the Andaman Islands, which were badly hit by the tsunami. Population density: Irrawaddy Division is densely populated, with about 5,61 million inhabitants and a density of 169 people per sq.km., as compared to 1,07 million inhabitants and 25 people per sq.km in Tenasserim. Assessement: Burmese authorities went to Irrawaddy on their first assessment of the damage caused by the disaster and report casualties from this area.

Need for emergency assistance
Burma has yet to make a request for official assistance. UNICEF is ready to assist if such a request should come (press report). UNHCR is also present in areas affected by the disaster (I have been unable to reach them today via Malaysia). Local assistance should be in place, but I have no information as to what type of assistance this consists of.

Government response
The Irrawaddy Division Peace and Development Chairman and the relevant government minister visited Irrawaddy Division on Monday. Local government representatives have also been in the area. The authorities are said to have issues a warning that more earthquakes are possible, that people should get out of buildings, look for falling debris, lit out fires, turn of electricity and not believe in loose rumours. Local Red Cross and fire brigades are reported to have been asked to be on stand by. The government has admitted that Burma was affected by the tsunamis during a press conference in Rangoon on 28 Dec. A coordinating meeting between the government, UN agencies and NGOs has also taken place. Assessment teams are being dispatched to affected areas.

Past experience
Past experience with how Burma deals with disasters is depressing. Last Summer two people were detained because they filmed a flood in Kachin State in Northern Burma. Dozens of people were killed by these floods, which the government called “normal”. In September 2003 all news reports about an earthquake causing an unknown number of casualties were censored and no information was released. In May 2004 a cyclone killed 220 people and made another 14,000 people homeless in Arakan State according to the Red Cross. The government did not report on the disaster until ten days later.

UNICEF Myanmar emergency situation report 28 Dec 2004

HIGHLIGHTS UNICEF has been informed by reliable sources that there have been at least 90 deaths due to tsunamis. Official government reports still place the casualty figure at 34. The government has also reported that 17 coastal villages were destroyed by the tsunamis.

Authorities are privately acknowledging casualty and damage figures will likely rise as more information comes to light. Casualties are reportedly heaviest in Ayeyarwaddy Division, and more casualty reports are also coming in from Tanintharyi Division and Rakhine State, where assessments are more difficult.

The remote Co Co Islands group to the southwest of Myanmar's mainland close to Indian Andaman Islands is reported to have been particularly hard hit. Precise casualty and damage figures from this area are not yet available. There are still numerous fishing boats that are unaccounted for. It remains unknown how many more fishermen/boat crew or remote communities may have been affected.

Ethnic Salone and Moken ("sea gypsy") communities were likely hard-hit by tsunamis as well. Flooding is being reported in some low-lying coastal areas. UNICEF has extended an offer of basic humanitarian assistance to the Government; no assistance has been requested at this juncture. Myanmar Red Cross staff are reported to be conducting field assessments in affected areas.

Staff from the Ministry of Relief and Resettlement and the Ministry of Health have also been dispatched to Ayeyarwaddy Division to conduct assessments. UNICEF is liaising with other UN agencies, international NGOs and donors to share information and facilitate coordinated action. UNICEF Myanmar anticipates that emergency funding may be required to provide essential health, clean water and sanitation assistance in affected areas.

SITUATION OVERVIEW
Nature of crisis: Tsunami Political situation: To date, authorities have not provided a great deal of details about the full scope of this disaster within Myanmar. The government has acknowledged that Myanmar was affected by the tsunamis, placing the official casualty figure at 34, and reporting that 17 coastal villages were destroyed by the tsunamis.

Humanitarian: UNICEF has been informed that there are at least 90 tsunami victims to date. There are indications that casualty and damage figures are likely to increase as additional information comes to light. Concerns remain about fishermen at sea, communities on small islands off the coasts of Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Division, and ethnic Salone and Moken "sea gypsy" communities. Flooding has been reported in some low-lying coastal areas, and there are reports that clean drinking water sources in affected areas may have been rendered unusable. Security: No security incidents have been reported in potentially affected areas of Myanmar, but communication / telecommunication constraints limit reporting.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Myanmar Red Cross staff are reported to be conducting field assessments in affected areas, and Ministry of Relief and Resettlement and Ministry of Health staff have also been dispatched to Ayeyarwaddy Division to conduct assessments. State media reports indicate that the government is providing unspecified supplies to some affected areas.

UNICEF RESPONSE UNICEF
Myanmar has extended an offer of basic humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar Government. UNICEF Myanmar has pre-positioned essential drugs in several coastal townships and can, if needed, reallocate stocks to the most affected areas. Clean water assistance (chlorine) can also be made available. UNICEF has requested health officials in Yangon to reallocate essential drug supplies to affected areas of Ayeyarwaddy Division. UNICEF Field Officers have been dispatched to the three coastal areas most affected by the tsunamis in Tanintharyi Division, Ayeyarwaddy Division and Rakhine State to conduct rapid impact assessments. UNICEF's emergency response will depend upon further assessments and official requests.

MEDIA
Media reports within Myanmar continue to be extremely limited. State media outlets have acknowledged the occurrence of the earthquakes and tsunamis, and have reported limited casualties and damage. Difficulties related to receiving official and non-official information about this situation continue.

OPERATIONAL ISSUES
Emergency staffing: current information indicates that this is not required at this juncture. UNICEF has dispatched field officers to Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwaddy Divisions and Rakkhine State. However, logistical, communications and telecommunication constraints may limit their ability to rapidly assess the situation and report back.

SUPPLY & LOGISTICS
UNICEF can provide essential drugs and clean water supplies, if needed. However, these stocks will need to be promptly replenished after delivery. Water provision systems may also be required. FUNDING With developing information indicating that damage may be more widespread than initially reported, and with reports coming in that clean drinking water sources in affected areas have been damaged, UNICEF Myanmar anticipates that emergency funding may be required to provide essential health, clean water and sanitation assistance in affected areas. For more information, please contact:J.B. Manhes, Field Coordinator, UNICEF Myanmar, tel: (95 1) 212 086, email: jmanhes@unicef.org, Jason Rush, Communication Officer, UNICEF Myanmar, tel: (95 1) 212 086, email: jrush@unicef.org Source: UN Children's Fund, Date: 12/28/2004, Reporting Period: 26-28 December, www.reliefweb.int


Tilbage	Til top

Klik dig videre til Free Burma's political prisoners now!

Islands Brygge 32D - 2300 København S - Tlf. +45 35 24 60 00 - E-mail: solidaritet@lo.dk