Myanmar authorities hinder disaster-relief projects

Feb 7, 2010, 8:16 GMT

Yangon - Myanmar authorities have slowed recovery programs for areas hit by Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta, by delaying visas and travel permits to aid workers, media reports said Sunday.

William Sabandar, the head of Nargis relief operations in Myanmar, said timely processing government documents was critical for recovery projects under the 2008 Prioritised Action Plan (PONREPP).

'I hope these issues can be resolved very soon because if (visas and permits) continue to be delayed, projects under the PONREPP will be delayed,' he told The Myanmar Times.

On May 2-3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis inundated the Irrawaddy Delta with tidal waves and left up to 140,000 people dead or missing.

The disaster sparked outrage at Myanmar's paranoid ruling junta, which was reluctant to allow foreign aid and aid workers into the devastated area.

An action plan was finally established between the government, United Nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for emergency and recovery efforts.

But 20 months later, problems with access to the affected area remain, according to Sabandar.

The third post-Nargis periodic review will be held on February 9 in Yangon.

International donors pledged 90.4 million dollars for recovery projects at the previous conference held in Bangkok on November 25.

Of the total pledged, 71.3 million has been spent, but more money is needed, Sabandar said.

'More funding is needed for the shelter sector and I urge donors who have not allocated their funding to allocate that sector,' he said.

'ASEAN is engaging with the government to ensure an effective coordination between recovery activities and longer-term development programs,' Sabandar told The Myanmar Times.