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Shortage of shelter adds to woes of Myanmar cyclone survivors
A severe shortage of housing has left hundreds of thousands of cyclone survivors in Myanmar exposed to heavy rains as the monsoon begins, aid agencies said on Saturday.
- AP
- Published: 21:06 June 7, 2008
Yangon: A severe shortage of housing has left hundreds of thousands of cyclone survivors in Myanmar exposed to heavy rains as the monsoon begins, aid agencies said on Saturday.
The United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned there was an "urgent need" for tarpaulins to provide the estimated 1.5 million homeless survivors with temporary shelter.
Otherwise, they warned, the threats of hunger and disease could intensify.
"Exposure to the elements five weeks after a disaster of this magnitude has to be a major concern," said John Sparrow, a spokesman for the IFRC.
"People are in a weakened condition. They are sick; they are hungry. Without shelter, their whole situation is seriously exacerbated."
The United Nations estimates a total of 2.4 million people were affected when Cyclone Nargis hit on May 2-3.
Aid groups have criticised the regime for hindering access to the delta, saying it has prevented enough food, water and shelter from reaching desperate survivors.
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