BANGKOK, 22 July 2008 (IRIN): Cyclone Nargis, which battered Burmas Irrawady Delta on 2 and 3 May, left an estimated 4 billion US dollar (18,8 milliarder DKR) worth of damage, on a par with (det er på højde med) the devastation caused by the tsunami in Indonesia in December 2004, according to a new assessment.
The figure includes 1,7 billion dollar in damage to physical assets, including homes, schools and health centres, as well as Buddhist temples and other religious buildings, which are important sources of community and social support.
Survivors also lost a combined 2,3 billion dolar in income through the storm and accompanying tidal surge, which struck factories, swept away rice harvests, livestock and other valuable tools of production, according to the report, released on 21 July.
The Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) estimated that about 1 billion dollar would be needed over three years to help affected communities and households meet their needs for food, livelihoods, housing, education, and other support services.
The report, compiled by the UN, the Burmese government and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), is based on detailed surveys of more than 390 affected villages in June.
Læs videre på www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79369
