Dry season water strategies in Myanmar after cyclone Nargis

For many residents of the Ayeyarwady Delta of Myanmar, rainwater collection from village ponds and roof tops serves as the primary source of potable water throughout the year. In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck the Delta region, damaging many of these ponds by breaching their embankments or filling them with debris and saline water. Despite the efforts of the international aid community and local government to repair and rehabilitate these traditional water sources, concerns remain about a potential water crisis affecting thousands of Ayeyarwady Delta residents during the dry season from November to April. This paper examines the different water rehabilitation and supply strategies adopted by relief agencies and communities during the second half of 2008 to mitigate possible water shortages in 2009.