MYANMAR NEEDS MORE CYCLONE SHELTERS BEFORE MOONSON

NEW DELHI, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Barely two months away from the May monsoon
season, at least 4,000 cyclone shelters are needed for people living in the
lowlands in Myanmar, which suffered its worst cyclone last year.

"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.

-- BERNAMA