“We are not really up to the mark (in preparation) for this monsoon. We need plenty of cyclone shelters, at least 3,000 to 4,000,” U Than Myint, former president of the Myanmar Engineering Society told Bernama here.

“For this project, the government and donors are doing something but in some areas, cyclone shelters cannot be completed soon and the monsoon is coming this May,” he added.

Myanmar suffered one of the worst catastrophes in its history last May when the deadly cyclone Nargis struck the Southeast Asian nation, killing over 80,000 people, while another 50,000 are still reported missing.

Millions of dollars in foreign aid and scores of relief workers were rushed, to the military-controlled underdeveloped agrarian state, to save millions stuck in cyclone-hit areas, which were stripped off food and shelter.

“People have already recovered from the disaster. Now is the reconstruction and development stage. For development we need to build some bridges and roads.

“We need some assistance, the government is working with the UN (United Nations) and Asean. We have asked for funds but they are not coming.

“Our local government, entrepreneurs and our own construction people are helping out. We hope to manage with this,” said Myint, who is in Delhi to attend the Disaster Risk Reduction conference.

Under mounting pressure, Myanmar agreed with its Asean partners and the UN to form a tripartite core group to coordinate relief works for the cyclone victims in June last year.