Bangkok – Asean, the United Nations and humanitarian partners pledged to donate over US$88 million to assist Cyclone Nargis survivors with recovery activities at the Post-Nargis and Regional Partnership Conference here Wednesday.

The pledge, exceeding 85 per cent of the US$103 million sought, came from donors such as Australia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Holland, the European Commission, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The contribution will be used towards the provision of 17,800 new houses, 40 new schools, 16 cyclone shelters, livelihood programmes for one million people, water and sanitation facilities for 800,000 people.

It will also cover education facilities to 35,000 students and health services to 900,000 individuals as mapped out in the Prioritised Action Plan of the Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP).

Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on May 2 and 3, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 140,000 fatalities. Damages were estimated at over US$4 billion, which made it the most damaging cyclone ever recorded in the region.

Today’s conference, co-chaired by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan and Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, was held to raise funds to address critical needs for the continuing reconstruction in the Irrawady Delta, which bore the brunt of the devastating cyclone.

Surin, in his opening statement, said that if support was not forthcoming soon, gains made over the past 18 months would be quickly lost, and the window to provide timely assistance would close.

“While much has been done, there are many affected communities across the delta who are still highly vulnerable and require urgent continued humanitarian assistance, especially in the areas of shelter, livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and health,” he said.

Heyzer said despite the international support for the post- Nargis recovery effort, so far only a small portion of the total appeal for humanitarian assistance had been met by the international community.

“Today, we are in danger of falling short of our promise to the people of the Irrawaddy Delta. If we are to continue our work for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, additional resources are urgently needed,” she said.