Myanmar: third plane of UNHCR airlift reaches Yangon

UNHCR's third plane has landed in Myanmar's main city, Yangon, carrying supplies from our emergency stocks in Dubai, continuing the airlift of relief items for victims of Cyclone Nargis. The plane landed in Yangon Thursday evening carrying 40 tonnes of assistance, consisting of 4,000 plastic sheets, 3,000 blankets, 5,200 kitchen sets and 10,000 mosquito nets.

The goods were distributed late at night and this morning to our partners, non-governmental and community-based organizations. They are now distributing them to help as many as 5,000 families in the Irrawaddy Delta.

Thursday's flight brings UNHCR's assistance trucked and airlifted into Myanmar since 10 May to 119 tonnes. Our relief efforts began just two days after the 3 May cyclone, when our office in Yangon bought $50,000 worth of tarpaulins, canned food and biscuits for urgent distribution in the affected areas.

We expect to have one more flight from Dubai into Yangon tomorrow (Saturday), carrying 10,000 plastic sheets, which should provide shelter for 10,000 families.

As part of the UN's $187 million joint appeal to address the Cyclone Nargis emergency, UNHCR has asked for $6 million for emergency shelter for 250,000 people. We are pleased to say that our portion of the appeal is already about 90 percent funded.