[Anthropgrad] Disaster to Development: Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar and UN Humanitarian Intervention (Public Lecture)

[Sue Fraser]

Date:       Tuesday 14 October
Time:       11 am to 12 pm
Venue:     Sparke Helmore Law Theatre 1
Speaker:   Paul Risley, United Nations World Food Programme
Host:       ANU College of Asia and the Pacific  
RSVP:      James.Giggacher at anu.edu.au 

On 2 and 3 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck the coast of Myanmar and
moved inland across the Ayeyarwady Delta and southern Yangon Division,
causing many deaths, destroying livelihoods, and disrupting economic
activities and social conditions. The cyclone is considered to be the
worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar. 

Immediately following the cyclone, the United Nations World Food
Progamme (WFP), the UN's frontline agency in the fight against global
hunger, responded to meet the enormous challenge of providing assistance
to the populated areas badly hit by the cyclone, many of which were
isolated and flooded, and only accessible by boat.

Paul Risley, the Asia Regional Communications Advisor and Spokesperson
for the United Nations World Food Programme, will discuss Cyclone Nargis
and the UN's and the International Community's humanitarian intervention
and response in Myanmar over the past four months.

Responsible for media relations in 14 Asian countries where WFP provides
food assistance, Mr. Risley has provided news, information and analysis
of food security issues to reporters and audiences across Asia.  

Mr. Risley's work has brought him to most of the countries in Asia where
recent natural disasters or civil conflict have required WFP food
assistance, including Myanmar, North Korea, Afghanistan, Indonesia and
Sri Lanka. The recent global food price crisis has further underscored
the critical importance of WFP food assistance in many Asian countries.

Registration for this event is recommended as places are limited. To
register you interest please email James.Giggacher at anu.edu.au

 

Sue Fraser

School Administrator

School of Archaeology & Anthropology

ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences

AD Hope Building #14 

The Australian National University

Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

 

T: +61 2 61253309

F: +61 2 61252711

W: http://arts.anu.edu.au/AandA

 

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