Cyclone Nargis,
the worst Asian cyclone since 1991, hit Myanmar (Burma) on May 2-3,
2008, triggering a storm surge and flooding in the five worst hit
states, where more than half of Myanmar's 53 million people live.
In the low-lying
Irawaddy delta, around 5,000 square kilometers are under water.
The Myanmar government has reported that nearly 22,500 people are
dead and close to 41,000 missing. There are 10,000 dead in the city
of Bogalay alone, where 95% of houses have been destroyed, according
to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC).
UN officials
have reported that close to one million people are homeless and
priority needs are for water purification tablets, plastic sheeting,
basic medical kits, bed nets and food. ACT members with staff or
partners present in the city of Yangon have reported that water
and electricity supplies have been cut, and that while the greatest
needs are for food and shelter the price of food and other essential
items are skyrocketing. The full extent of the destruction is still
being ascertained as damage and need assessment information comes
in and communication channels are slow and very limited.
Information
Minister Kyaw Hsan of the Government of Myanmar appealed for help
on Tuesday, saying, "the government needs the cooperation of
the people and well-wishers from home and abroad." Reuters
reports that military helicopters have today been dropping food
and water into the worst affected areas. Governments and relief
agencies around the world have promised more than $10 million worth
of aid and technical support. However, a lack of specialized equipment
has slowed distribution, according to Reuters.
ACT
International response
ACT
International members and other supporters of the alliance around
the world have begun mobilizing their support to the people affected
by this disaster. ACT members with local partner organizations
in Myanmar including Church World Service, Christian Aid, Danchurchaid,
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Norwegian Church Aid, ICCO and KerkinActie,
and Church of Sweden have begun mobilizing material, financial and
human resource support to partners in-country.
Other
members, including the Lutheran World Federation offices in Asia
and CASA India, are offering experienced personnel to assist with
the coordination and operations both from Bangkok and Yangon, and
an ACT Rapid Support Team is being formed.
Various
ACT members around the world have launched national fundraising
appeals, and 200,000 Euros have already been pledged by ICCO and
Kerkinactie towards a preliminary, coordinated ACT appeal that is
being planned for launch by early next week. ACT
members are also sharing information with each other on issues including
the securing of visas for travel to Myanmar, possibilities for sending
of relief materials into the country, and other access issues. The ACT Coordinating Office in Geneva is facilitating communications
and coordination efforts amongst the members.
