UN-CMCoord in Cyclone Nargis response operation

Mr Fredrik WallenbergUN OCHA / ESB / CMCSGeneva Switzerland

SituationCyclone Nargis 2-3 May.Wind speed up to 70 m/s followed by a 3.5 meter tide wave.Worst natural disaster to strike one single country in 25 (?) years.Worst cyclone since Bhola 1970 in East Pakistan (Bangladesh).

Death toll: 77,738 persons (official estimate, source: state TV, date: 16 May)·    Persons missing: 55,917 persons (official estimate, source: state TV, date: 16 May) ·    Persons affected: 2,400,000 (UN estimate, includes those severely affected)

Initial challenges:

Growing concerns on scope of disaster.

Military Junta suspicious against the western world, main driving force: to remain in power.

In-kind donations of relief goods to government welcome, but not humanitarian workers.

Access: Few visas to Yangon for short term. No access to delta region.

Tap on - tap off

No assessment of needs.Conflicting figures.

Initial “blind” assessment: Lack of everything.

Potential roles for military units.- Tactical transport from Log Base in Thailand to Yangon- Water purification (Mistral: 100 M3 / 24 hrs)- Handling of cargo at Yangon airport- Landing crafts in delta region. - Medical teams- NFI, shelter.- Helicopter OPS

U-TapaoUS C-130 Flights

Don MuangWFP Log Base

Mae SotUS Helicopter flightsNo permission

Transport to affected areas

O

O

O

Arrival- Inventory of main humanitarian actors: Cluster leads and WFP / Log Cluster

- Inventory of main military actors- US JTF in Khorat- US Airlift C-130 + Helicopters- USS Essex +2 vessels,- FR vessel Mistral- UK HMS Westminster, 2 UK LNO- (India and Thailand)- Potentially Thailand, Australia, India and Singapore and Malaysia.

UN-CMCoord Plan- FW in Bangkok, ROAP, Log Cluster, US AID, WFP- Brian Isbell JTF, U-Tapao (potentially at Don Muang)- Gilbert Greenall at Log Cluster in Yangon / Yangon Airport

Other locations:-Mae Sot-Sea port in SE Asia Chennai, Port Blair-Mistral

US• Cobra Gold ExerciseCobra Gold Exercise• Helicopter OPS from Mae Sot into Myanmar and later from USS EssexHelicopter OPS from Mae Sot into Myanmar and later from USS Essex• Had access to Myanmar military counterparts. Had access to Myanmar military counterparts. • Initial plan to airdrop from C-130 in delta. Unclear status of Myanmar Air-defenseInitial plan to airdrop from C-130 in delta. Unclear status of Myanmar Air-defense• Bilateral agreement with Myanmar covered only shipment of goods to Yangon. Bilateral agreement with Myanmar covered only shipment of goods to Yangon.

• Up to 9-12 sorties daily with C-130 from U-tapao.Up to 9-12 sorties daily with C-130 from U-tapao.• As of As of 02 June: 100 flights w/total weight: 897 MT02 June: 100 flights w/total weight: 897 MT

- Offered to deliver cargo to implementing partners on ground. Origin of aid?Offered to deliver cargo to implementing partners on ground. Origin of aid?- Bilateral aid? Delivery to Myanmar authorities?Bilateral aid? Delivery to Myanmar authorities?

Vehicle / Cargo Sorties/Capacity per Day

C-130 5-12 per dayCapacity=25000 lbs per 125,000-300,000 lbs(11 MT) (56.7-136MT)

22 Heavy Lift Helicopters6 CH-53 Helicopter 9 per dayCapacity=15000 lbs 135,000 lbs(6.8 MT) (61.2 MT)

16 CH-46 Helicopters 26 per dayCapacity=3000 lbs 78,000 lbs(1.4 MT) (35.4 MT)

4 Heavy Lift Landing Craft2 Landing Craft Units 2 per dayCapacity=180 tons 360 tons(163 MT) (326.6 MT)

2 Landing Craft 4 per dayAir CushionedCapacity=60 tons 240 tons(54.4 MT) (210 MT)

United States Joint Task Force Cargo Delivery Capacity

Total Daily Lift Capacity

690-769.2 MT

1

Internal Distribution Capacity from Yangon

6 CH-53 Helicopters 18 SortiesCapacity=15000 lbs 270,000 lbs (6.8 Metric Tons) (122.5 MT)

16 CH-46 Helicopters 48 SortiesCapacity=3000 lbs 144,000 lbs (1.4 MT=1361 KG) (65.3 MT)

2

400 tonnes of rice10,000 cans of water40,000 water purification tables20,000 tarpaulins10,000 mosquito nets10,000 sets of cooking utensilsMedical teamsLanding CraftsEngineers

• Granted access – later denied.

• Now off-loading in Phuket.• WFP will store the 1000 MT of HA, pending identification of a consignee for the 600 MT of NFI• WFP will accept the 400 MT of rice.

Le Mistral,French helicopter carrier

LogisticsUnclear situation with no waiver for customs clearance.

Consignees a problem. Cargo confiscated by Myanmar Authorities.

Access to delta region by national staff only.

When will we get access? After referendum? All messages interpreted.

From Yangon – to delta:Fuel and bridges was a problem – mainly shipping by barges and boats.Port in Yangon damaged.

AirliftNo high loader at Yangon, but personnel available. Accountability?Don Muang Airport, Conflicting messages OCHA – WFP Mi-8 Helicopters expected to arrive, missions “perfect” for helicopters.No military helicopters allowed into Myanmar airspace.

Two questions:

- Should US planes land at WFP Log Base Don Muang?

- Use of UN helicopters from Le Mistral?

Conclusions

Natural disaster but very politicized context.

Main challenge was consequences of perceived affiliation.

Constantly changing situation and no assessment of needs: Nothing could be ruled out.

Important to establish and maintain a relation with humanitarian organizations.Contact and access to military forces was not a problem.

Cluster meetings were excellent forums for discussions and meetings.

Information fog:Humanitarian organizations bilaterally in contact with US and Thai military.Plenty of military bilateral support to Myanmar. Thai and Singapore C-130.