“We can expect that populations in the Delta will remain very vulnerable for many months”, says Phillip Humphris, Programme manager for Burma in Geneva.
Around three months after cyclone Nargis devastated the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar/Burma, MSF teams are working hard to ensure that healthcare and clean water are available to the affected people. More and more aid organisations are now finally able to carry activities in the Delta, which enables MSF to hand over most of its food distribution programmes by the end of July.
“As other actors step up their efforts, particularly food distribution, MSF is shifting the emphasis of it programmes accordingly; focusing increasingly on delivering health and psychosocial care, with continued efforts in improving water and sanitation”, says Joe Belliveau, MSF Director of Operations in Amsterdam.
However, the organization will continue to provide food to populations living in areas where no regular distributions are ongoing, for instance in the Ama region, in the extreme South of the Delta.
“We remain vigilant to people’s ongoing needs in order to respond appropriately and effectively”, explains Joe.
Over the past month, MSF has increased its medical activities and the area they cover in the Irrawaddy Delta and is now working from fixed locations using outreach programmes to go further afield. MSF teams, comprising more than 270 people, have carried out over 35,000 medical consultations since May 3rd. They are working to reach up to 350.000 people with emergency aid in the worst-affected Delta area, through both mobile and fixed clinics.