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Nutrition Information in Crisis Situations
Myanmar
NICS 17, June 2008
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar's central coast on 2-3 May 2008. According to the
last estimates, 138,373 people were killed or went missing (DPA, 27/06/08). In
addition, an estimated 2.4 million people were affected across Ayeyarwady and
Yangoon divisions (OCHA, 26/06/08). Some of the affected households gathered in
camps, which were progressively closed (USAID, 18/06/08). Forced returns of
displaced people in order to get them back on their land to begin reviving the
agricultural sector, have been reported (RI, 30/05/08).
According to an assessment conducted about one week after the passage of the
cyclone, in Bogale township, one of the three most severely affected townships
in Ayeyarwady division, there were 23,000 displaced people in camps in Bogale
town (ACF-F, 11/05/08). Most of the food stocks were lost and the next planting
season of paddy rice was expected to be compromised because of lack of seeds and
deaths of buffaloes, which are used for ploughing. Availability of food in the
market was limited and food prices had increased. Moreover job opportunities had
dramatically decreased with the destruction of companies and disruption of
agricultural and fishing activities. People were eating wild plants and spoiled
rice, and their food consumption was considerably reduced.
Preliminary findings of joint assessments of humanitarian needs and damage
components, conducted in 30 townships, showed that 59% of the households were
severely damaged, and that there was a major shift from wooden houses to less
solid bamboo houses (ASEAN/GoM/UN, 2906/08).
Forty-two percent of food stocks were destroyed and around 60% of the
households were purchasing food from the market while 45% had received food
through humanitarian assistance.
Livelihoods were disrupted with income sources from agriculture and fisheries
decreasing from 34% to 22% and from 16% to 8%, respectively (OCHA, 26/06/08).
However, 47% of arable land was not flooded and part of the flooded land could
still be cropped. More than half of village leaders suggested there were not
enough seeds for the next planting season; and 78% of households have reported a
lack of access to credit to rebuild their livelihoods.
Access to clean water was inadequate for about 60% of households, increasing
to 75% in the most affected areas. Defecation in the open has increased due to
destroyed latrines. On the other hand, no outbreaks of disease have been
reported so far (WHO, 30/06/08).
Infrastructure suffered with 72% of schools and education facilities, 57% of
religious institutions, and 23% of health facilities in need of rehabilitation.
A MUAC assessment, using convenience sampling, was conducted in the camps of
eight of the most affected townships of Ayeyarwady and Yangoon divisions between
17 and 23 May 2008 (MOH/UNICEF, 10/06/08). It showed a nutrition situation which
was not alarming. Among the 832 children measured, 6.5% and 3.9% of the children
surveyed had a MUAC below 125 mm, in Ayeyarwady and Yangoon, respectively. Less
than 1% of the children had a MUAC less than 110 mm in both divisions.
The response plan for nutrition included effective management of acute
malnutrition in children and pregnant and lactating women, prevention of
micronutrient deficiencies, support and promotion of appropriate infant feeding
practices and identification of areas of particular vulnerability using rapid
nutrition assessments, surveys, screening and surveillance (NC, 27/06/08).
Access to the affected areas and delivery of aid have been slow, with
restricted access granted by the government (DPA, 26/05/08). It seemed that
access eased at the end of May (IRIN, 29/05/08), although travel permission and
aid distribution clearance are still required (HRW, 12/06/08).
A tripartite core group, consisting of high-level representatives of the
government of Myanmar, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
the UN was formed to oversee the coordination of relief assistance (OCHA,
26/06/08). The cluster approach was also established. The humanitarian appeal
was 66% funded as of June 2008.
So far, out of the estimated 2.4 million affected, it is estimated that 1.3
million have been reached by international aid agencies (OCHA, 26/06/08). As of
the end of June 2008, food assistance had reached approximately 684,000 people
in the Ayeyarwady division, while cash assistance was provided to 45,000 people
in Yangon. Cash assistance was provided because markets were functioning and
people had access to goods from market (WFP, 20/05/08). However, cash transfer
activities were then totally discontinued following notification of a definitive
ban on this programme (OCHA, 30/06/08). Prohibition of local purchases of rice
makes regional procurement a priority to avoid a pipeline break. People also
received non-food items (USAID, 25/06/08).
Although some aid has been distributed to revive livelihoods such as
agriculture and fisheries, it is likely that people will need emergency,
recovery and livelihood assistance for some more months (IRIN, 27/06/08). In
Yangoon division, households from farming and fishing villages reported that it
will take more than one year to fully re-establish livelihood (WFP, 20/05/08).
NICS 16, March 2008
In October 2007 ACF-F conducted a random-sampled nutrition survey in Northern
Rakhine State, located in the extreme west of the country along the border with
Bangladesh. Approximately 90% of the population in the districts surveyed are
Arakan Muslims of Indian or Persian descent and, as such, are not recognized as
Burmese citizens (ACF-F, 11/07).
The survey unveils an exceptionally high prevalence of acute malnutrition,
although both severe malnutrition and mortality rates are below alert levels
(table 10). The results are slightly higher than those found in a January 2006
survey, but this might be explained by the fact that it was carried out towards
the end of the lean season.
BMI was also calculated for 312 non-pregnant mothers, for whom 52.9% fell
below 18.5 kg/mē. Nearly one third of under-5 deaths were reported as having
occurred in the first 8 days of life, although in most cases the specific cause
of death was unknown. Over half of respondents stated using an unimproved water
source, most commonly a nearby pond or river.
Table 10 Prevalence of acute malnutrition and mortality rates, Myanmar,
October 2007 (ACF-F, 11/07)
NICS 9, May 2006
A random-sampled nutrition survey was conducted in Maungdaw and Buthidaung
townships, located in the northern part of Rakhine state and mainly populated by
the Rohingya community (ACF-F, 01/06). The area has poor infrastructure and is
under-developed. The survey revealed a high prevalence of acute malnutrition,
while mortality rates were under control (table 5). The nutrition situation has
remained within the same range for the last few years.
Table 5 Results of a nutrition and mortality survey in Maungdaw & Buthidaung
townships, North Rakhine state, Myanmar, Jan-06 (ACF-F, 01/06)
NICS 6, May 2005
It is estimated that about 5,000 people require food aid in Myanmar (WFP,
01/05). These are mostly poor families depending on fishing who have lost most
of their assets. The seawater did not extend inland more than 200 meters, so no
adverse effects are expected on paddy production. There has been a significant
decrease in availability of safe drinking water.
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