Current Humanitarian Situation About 30,000 people are missing in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) after this weekend's devastating cyclone, in addition to a death toll of 15,000 (and rising). This cyclone, Cyclone Nargis, is the worst to hit Asia in more than 25 years.
Burmese state television said five regions with a combined population of 24 million people had been declared disaster zones. Survivors in the worst-hit region, the densely populated Irrawaddy Delta, face a growing risk of disease and possibly hunger. In some villages, 90 percent of shelter was destroyed or damaged. (This a country that hasn’t had a full census since 1937.)
Work is still under way to assess the scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone, which brought winds reaching 190km/h (120mph).
Needs
The biggest needs are shelter and drinking water. Prices of food, fuel and basic necessities have also risen dramatically in the wake of the storm, putting more people at risk. Water-borne diseases may also be an issue in the coming days and weeks.
Specific needs will include: plastic sheeting, tents, water purification tablets, water filters, hygiene kits, medicines, mosquito nets and food.
Challenges
The government indicated willingness to accept international assistance through the U.N. agencies. But there were doubts about exactly how open the Burmese government is to foreign assistance. Diplomats asked ministers whether visas would be available to relief workers and whether duty would be waived on relief supplies. The ministers could give no such commitment.
So far, most foreigners and all foreign journalists have been barred from entering the country. Aid workers are facing a battle to help hundreds of thousands of Burmese. Western diplomats told The Daily Telegraph that the government had failed to make it possible for United Nations agencies to move swiftly to bring relief to thousands left without drinking water and shelter.
The area worst affected by the cyclone that struck on Saturday is a vast, highly populated delta crisscrossed by canals and inlets, qualities that are likely to make the damage extensive and delivering aid extraordinarily difficult. Before the cyclone hit, dikes had collapsed, irrigation systems had failed and bridges were sometimes impassable.
Islamic Relief Action
An IR emergency response team is being prepared to fly out to Myanmar at the earliest opportunity. Contact is being made with potential partners on the ground and we need £3 million to cover: plastic sheeting, tents, water purification tablets, water filters, hygiene kits, medicines, mosquito nets and food. Help us to help the people of Myanmar.
To respond to this appeal, Islamic Relief team is currently running a series of fund raising activities. It would also be great if you could contribute by helping us spread the words, you will definitely make a lot of changes to the lives of the Burmese.
One of the ways that you could contribute to this appeal is by handing out flyers to your fellow colleagues, neighbors , family and etc...You can do that by downloading the above image and print it out. Click here to download PDF format
Current Humanitarian Situation
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