What has happened in Myanmar?

On Saturday 3 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck the southwest of Myanmar. Winds of up to 150 miles per hour and 3.5m waves destroyed houses and left 5,000 square kilometres of the delta region under water.

According to official figures, around 134,000 people are dead or missing. The UN estimates that 2.4 million people have been affected. Due to difficulties in accessing the worst affected areas, one million people have still not received any outside assistance.

How many older people have been affected?

With 1 in 12 of Myanmar’s population aged over 60, an estimated 200,000 older people have been affected by the cyclone.

What are the most urgent humanitarian needs?

Food, clean water, healthcare are the most immediate needs.

Many people are living in temporary shelters and need support to rebuild their homes. They also need basic non-food items such as cooking utensils.

Why are older people a vulnerable group in emergencies?

Older people are not often identified as a vulnerable group in emergencies and can therefore be excluded from relief efforts. However, older people face particular challenges in emergencies and need support.

They are less mobile and can be left behind when families and communities flee. They are frail and find it difficult to access aid distributions. Emergency health, food and nutrition programmes are rarely adjusted to their needs.

Older people can also have increased responsibilities for supporting their families, mobilising resources and caring for children, orphans and other dependants.

What is HelpAge International’s response?

HelpAge International is supporting the efforts of the YMCA with a mixture of funding for relief work and technical expertise on the needs of older people.

HelpAge International and the YMCA have been working in Yangon District and Kyaik Lat Township to distibute food and non-food items and provide health check-ups from Mobile Medical Units. They have recently extended this work into two new townships - Dedaye and Pyapon.

In Yangon District, cash transfers have been provided to older people in a homecare programme run for over five years by the YMCA in partnership with HelpAge Korea. The money will be used to buy essential items and materials to rebuild their homes.

HelpAge International is also looking at plans to implement longer-term rehabilitation programmes in targeted areas, in partnership with the YMCA.

What will happen in the long-term?

The five states hit by Nargis produce 65 per cent of the country’s rice and have about 50 per cent of all irrigated farmland. This could cause a major shortage of food supplies in next 18 months.

The next rice harvest is not due until the end of year, so emergency relief will be essential for the next 6 months at least.

Can older people play a role in the relief effort?

Yes. Older people’s experiences, coping strategies, traditional skills and local environmental knowledge are important in mitigating the impact of emergencies. HelpAge International believes that this potential should be recognised and built upon. 

How can you help?

You can support our Myanmar cyclone relief work by making a donation through partner Help the Aged's website.