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Cyclone Komen, which swept across western Myanmar states last week is now known to have caused extensive damage, including to areas that are home to thousands of displaced people.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other partners are still assessing the impact on the existing displaced populations in Rakhine and Kachin states.
Jens Laerke, Spokesperson of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told reporters in Geneva that "the acting Residential Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, his name is Eamonn Murphy, has commented the relief efforts led by the Myanmar authorities and local organisations such as the Myanmar Red Cross Society. The responders are carrying out rescue operations and are providing food, water, blankets, medical and other basic assistance to people in distress".
Strong winds, heavy rains and serious flooding continue to hamper assessment and relief efforts in some areas. Rakhine state has been declared one of four "natural disaster zones" by the Myanmar Government, alongside Chin state and Sagaing and Magway regions.
Jens Laerke, Spokesperson of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also said that "the Myanmar authorities have today formally requested international assistance. We have already, we being the UN and international humanitarian organisations, already been working closely with the authorities, at local, state and union levels, and supporting the national response. We have dispatched assessment teams to the worst affected areas to identify priorities in terms of water and sanitation, shelter, food and all the relief needs".
UNHCR has distributed relief aid including tarpaulins, blankets, mats and buckets to those hosted in official reception centres as well as others who have been affected.
Adrian Edwards, Spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sadi,"We have been able to reach camps for internally displaced people in Sittwe, as well as in Pauktaw and Myebon. In the 24 camps we looked at so far about a quarter of the temporary shelters are damaged, more than 21 000 already internally displaced people are affected as a result, we recall several of these sights have been there for several years, they are flimsy, they are fragile, even before".
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees continues to work with the authorities to find longer-term solutions to situations of internal displacement.
STORY: GENEVA / MYANMAR FLOODS
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 4 AUGUST 2015, GENEVA
SHOTLIST:
1. Wide shot, exterior of the UN
2. Wide shot, Press Briefing Room
3. SOUNDBITE (English), Jens Laerke, Spokesperson United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
"The acting Residential Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, his name is Eamonn Murphy, has commented the relief efforts led by the Myanmar authorities and local organisations such as the Myanmar Red Cross Society. The responders are carrying out rescue operations and are providing food, water, blankets, medical and other basic assistance to people in distress".
4. Close up, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, Spokesperson United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
"The Myanmar authorities have today formally requested international assistance. We have already, we being the UN and international humanitarian organisations, already been working closely with the authorities, at local, state and union levels, and supporting the national response. We have dispatched assessment teams to the worst affected areas to identify priorities in terms of water and sanitation, shelter, food and all the relief needs".
6. Medium shot, reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (English), Adrian Edwards, Spokesperson United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) :"We have been able to reach camps for internally displaced people in Sittwe, as well as in Pauktaw and Myebon. In the 24 camps we looked at so far about a quarter of the temporary shelters are damaged, more than 21 000 already internally displaced people are affected as a result, we recall several of these sights have been there for several years, they are flimsy, they are fragile, even before".
7. Close up, journalist watching screen
8. Medium shot, journalists
DURATION: 01:41
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