But not being at the centre of media attention does not mean the plight of Myanmar is over. Unfortunately, that is far from being the case.

The world's attention will surely re-focus on Myanmar in the coming days, with the launch of the Revised Flash Appeal yesterday. The initial appeal sought US$187 million (S$255 million) to enable international partners to support the government of Myanmar in addressing the needs of more than 1.5 million people affected by the cyclone.

The Revised Flash Appeal is based on the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment Report (Ponja) undertaken by the Tripartite Core Group, consisting of Asean, Myanmar and the United Nations.

The Ponja report will be launched in Singapore on July 21 at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In our separate capacities as the chairman of the Asean Humanitarian Task Force and a member of the Humanitarian Task Force Advisory Group, we were recently provided with the report's preliminary findings - and they give a sobering overview of the extensive damage and loss incurred as a result of Cyclone Nargis.

It was an overview reinforced by what we saw during a recent visit to some of the worst-affected areas in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta, including the townships of Bogale, Satsan and Kyein Chaung Gyi.

Even before landing in the affected areas, we were provided with a constant reminder of the obstacles faced in overcoming the cyclone's effects. The 45-minute helicopter flight to Bogale highlighted the vast open space of the delta, while the absence of almost any roads emphasised its remoteness and the scale of the remaining recovery and reconstruction challenge.

On the ground, we saw that while the relief phase is far from over and unmet humanitarian needs remain significant - particularly in the food, water, sanitation and shelter sectors - much has been accomplished to bring assistance to most villages in the delta and some level of normalcy was starting to take shape.

We saw a district hospital in full operation, children attending recently repaired schools and the construction, with hardwood, of homes to replace the tents and temporary shelters erected in the first weeks following the destructive passage of Cyclone Nargis.

But this progress cannot go far on its own. International aid is needed. So it is time to scale up effective programmes to support the health, education and livelihoods of the people in the delta.

It is time to think of using the tripartite partnership to develop a more comprehensive and coordinated strategy for recovery. In particular, it is time to ensure that rice is planted before the planting season is over at the end of this month. Failure to do that will not only be disastrous for food security in Myanmar and the region, but will also increase Myanmar's already high levels of unemployment.

As part of early recovery efforts, seeds, fertiliser and more diesel for the newly provided tillers are urgently needed. Small steps such as these will have knock-on effects for the overall situation - productive employment is a central part of the recovery phase and a step towards normalcy.

In addition, support needs to be township-focused and village- based. The capacity of existing institutions that can bring relief to where it is most needed - at the community level - needs to be strengthened. This point was driven home when we visited a township and village administration that was managing relief operations with the support of the Myanmar Red Cross and Red Crescent, civil society organisations and the UN system.

For any of this to happen, there needs to be a solid response to the Revised Flash Appeal and we call upon the international community to heed the appeal.

Not all of us will be able to witness first-hand the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis with flights to the Irrawaddy delta, neither do we need to. It is enough to know that the Myanmar people need the world's help. And the world should respond - quickly.

As our field visit to the delta drew to a close and the blades of the World Food Programme's MI-8 helicopter began to roar, the drizzle which had been falling for some time changed.

Gone was the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops, and in its place came the monsoon rains - yet another reminder of the need to act quickly.

Dr Heyzer, UN Undersecretary- general and executive secretary of Escap, is a member of the Asean Humanitarian Task Force Advisory Group. Dr Surin is Secretary-general of the Asean Secretariat and chairman of its task force.