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What we are doing

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, one of just a few organisations with operations in Myanmar, was at the forefront of the relief response.

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    On 2nd May, 2008, Cyclone Nargis

    Killed more than 84,000 people

    6 months on, the recovery effort continues

    Liz Hughes, Operations Manager, IFRC

    We're just coming to the end of the relief stage of the operation which means we're coming to the end of giving out essential non-food items tarpulin, shelter protection to people and now what we're moving into is planning for the longer term- the recovery operation. How we get people back on their feet with their livelihoods

    Local Villager:

    I lost everything. My house, my furniture and my boat. I need something to make a living like a boat and a fishing net

    Local Villager:

    I don't want my grandson to die, he gives us our only hope. I'm just hoping that my son can find some work.

    Doctor Aung Kyaw Htut, Chief Coordinator, Myanmar Red Cross:

    Most of the people in the delta are farmers and in the fishing business So they need boats, nets and the seeds. Everything was lost in the cyclone, so they need the livelihoods programme.

    Local Villager:

    if I had a boat and nets, I' drop the nets in the river and catch fish and prawns to eat to sell.

    Liz Hughes, Operations Manager, IFRC:

    And now what we're moving into is going into the communities spending four days talking to lots of people in the community about what the issues are about what has happened until now, and about what has been destroyed really as a result of the cyclone and needs to be rebuilt and our job then will be to work with the community to put together a plan and to help them pu those things back in place.

    To find out more go to: redcross.org.uk/myanmarcyclone

Distributing emergency relief

Myanmar Red Cross Society volunteers started working immediately after the cyclone struck, assessing the situation in the worst-affected areas and providing life-saving support.
More than 155 Red Cross relief flights landed in Yangon, carrying shelter kits, jerry cans, tarpaulins, kitchen sets, mosquito nets and hygiene parcels.

Relief items were distributed to more than 260,000 households affected by the cyclone, in Yangon and the Ayeyarwady delta.

Providing shelter and income

Tens of thousands of volunteers played a major role in the response and emergency shelter was provided to over 80,000 households.Woman eating at Red Cross shelter

To restore and improve the livelihoods of households affected by the cyclone, the Red Cross launched a cash-for-work programme whereby thousands of people earn income by participating in community projects.

Over a third of the people on the programme are women. The majority of both married and unmarried women lost their primary source of income, which involved drying fish, due to the cyclone. Income-generating projects have enabled the community to diversify the workforce.

The programme includes projects that reduce the risk of future flooding disasters. Jetties, roads, bridges and paths are being raised and drainage channels dredged.

Recovery programme

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies recovery programme is helping 100,000 households over three years.

The focus is restoring livelihoods and the ability of those affected to generate much-needed income.

The Federation continues to work in-country training local staff and volunteers in emergency health and care. Once trained, they are deployed to the affected areas to assist in public health and psychosocial support by providing emotional and practical care.

Updated 29 December 2009

More about Cyclone Nargis

A donation from our Disaster Fund was made in response to this crisis. Contributions to the Disaster Fund will be used in response to other emergencies in the future.
Disaster Fund I would like to make a donation to the Disaster Fund

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