UN says it is lagging behind in collecting money it needs for Myanmar cyclone relief

YANGON, Myanmar - Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Gates, J.K. Rowling and a clutch of Hollywood stars have all donated generously to help Myanmar's cyclone victims, but the United Nations says funding to keep its relief effort going is falling short of the targets.

The U.N. said Thursday it has received just over half the money it has requested for cyclone relief in Myanmar, with some nations apparently delaying their donations because of concerns about restrictions imposed by the military government on foreign aid workers.

The U.N. set a goal of US$201.6 million for its relief efforts but so far has received only US$113.2 million, or 56 percent, from government donors, it said. Some US$51 million in pledges has not yet been delivered, the U.N. said.

Funding shortfalls were particularly great for emergency food operations and education, said the world body.

"Funding is clearly not coming in at the rate we would hope," said Amanda Pitt, a spokeswoman in Bangkok, Thailand, for the U.N. relief operations. "Funding is urgently needed to sustain the pipeline for food and assistance."

Other agencies are faring better. The private, Christian-oriented group World Vision, a major international relief agency, says it is looking for about US$25 million or US$26 million to enable operatiosn for six months and has US$19 million so far.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it has raised 96 percent of the 52.9 million Swiss francs (US$50.8 million) it is currently seeking.

France Hurtubise, a spokeswoman for the IFRC, could not explain why the U.N. had less success in meeting its goals.

But she said the IFRC is able to tap an established, trusted network of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in 186 countries and that in absolute terms, the IFRC is seeking just one-quarter of what the U.N. wants.

Private agencies _ which play a large part in relief operations _ raise much of their funds from individuals, both rich and not-so-rich.

"Obviously people see images on television of people in great need. I think there's a natural desire to give in that situation," said World Vision spokesman James East.

He noted that the U.N. taps different sources for its funds, primarily governments, which generally want more "access and accountability."

"They want to be sure that their money is going to spent wisely and that the aid can be monitored," he said.

Aid donors met late last month in Yangon and agreed to provide some cyclone aid, but many of them warned the ruling junta they would not fully open their wallets until international aid workers are provided access to the hardest-hit areas. The junta promised to allow foreign workers into the Irrawaddy delta, but has continued to hinder access to the area.

Celebrities also play a part in blazing a fundraising trail.

Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee _ a consortium of 13 humanitarian aid agencies _ says Queen Elizabeth II and Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling both contributed "significant donations" to Myanmar relief.

The committee, which says it has raised 13.5 million pounds (US$20.8 million) so far, would not reveal the size of their donations, but spokeswoman Patricia Sanders said releasing the names shows that the committee and its members are "trusted routes to give money to."

U.S. software billionaire Bill Gates has donated US$3 million through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for emergency relief efforts in Myanmar and offered software to help reunite family members separated in the cyclone.

Hollywood is also doing its part, most notably through the nonprofit organization Not On Our Watch _ founded by actors Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and human rights lawyer David Pressman.

Not On Our Watch awarded US$250,000 to Save the Children and offered to match every additional dollar given to the aid group up to US$250,000.

U.N. spokeswoman Pitt said the U.N. hopes that funding will increase after a comprehensive assessment of the needs of the estimated 2.4 million survivors of the May 2-3 cyclone is finished by June 20.

About 250 experts from the U.N., Myanmar's government and Southeast Asian nations headed into the Irrawaddy delta on Tuesday for the survey of 6,000 hard-hit villages. They will determine the food, water and shelter needs of the survivors, along with the cost of rebuilding houses and schools and reviving the farm-based economy.

The U.N. estimates that more than 1 million survivors, mostly in the delta, still need help more than five weeks after the cyclone struck. Cyclone Nargis killed more than 78,000 people in impoverished Myanmar and left another 56,000 people missing, according to the government.

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