New York (PTI): The United Nations has asked the international community to urgently provide funds to meet health requirements in the cyclone-devastated areas in Myanmar which are in the process of rebuilding.
Around 1,40,000 people lost their lives and more than 8,00,000 were rendered homeless by the cyclone Nargis which hit the nation in May last.
Till now, two-thirds of the funds for the U.N.'s $451 million appeal have been met, but agriculture and early recovery sectors are lagging behind with only 25 per cent and 39 per cent of needs being met so far.
"The past seven months' experience of responding to the health needs of the cyclone-affected population has shown that effective aid delivery can be achieved," U.N.'s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Bishow Parajuli said,
Cautioning that the progress could unravel unless coordinated efforts are made to support the country's health system, Parajuli said, "The cyclone has resulted in a significantly increased level of general vulnerability amongst the population."
Applauding efforts of the disease surveillance reporting system set up with Myanmar's Health Ministry which helped prevent disease outbreaks and malnutrition through vaccination campaigns and other activities, the U.N. said that the fears of a 'second wave of death' has been averted, with nearly 7,50,000 people having been treated in the Ayeyarwady Delta by health providers.
Meanwhile, dozens of heads of diplomatic missions, U.N. agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) met in the capital Yangon on Tuesday and made a field trip to examine the health facilities on Wednesday.