Plan responds to Myanmar cyclone - US$887,000 raised for relief effort

Plan has responded to the plight of survivors of Cyclone Nargis which killed an estimated 100,000 people and devastated large areas of Myanmar (Burma), by raising US$887,000 for emergency humanitarian and relief operations.

The emergency funds will be used to provide vitally needed medicines and supplies to almost a million displaced children and their families, including emergency non-food items, such as mosquito nets, shelters, saws, axes, sarongs, and hygiene kits, especially for young girls.

 
Medical supplies including anti diarrhoea, anti-bacterial, and anti-malarial drugs, as well as saline drips and basic bandaging and dressings will also be distributed.

Much of the Irrawaddy Delta, the rice bowl of Myanmar, is underwater and hundreds of thousands of children are still without food, water, clothing or shelter.

 
High risk of disease

Meanwhile, Plan and other agencies are ready to provide support, but are still awaiting the necessary authorisation to enter the country. With every day the risk of disease increases, as bodies rot, and the contaminated food and water supplies leave the displaced even more vulnerable.

Although Plan has no active programmes in Myanmar it is ideally placed to offer immediate and expert assistance because it has strong programmes in most of Myanmar’s neighbours and highly trained staff poised to intervene the minute permission is granted to enter the country.

Plan already has partners in Myanmar and they are collating information and assessments for our response.

Expertise with children

Plan’s in-depth knowledge and experience from the 2004 tsunami will also come into play. Our expertise in working with children and communities in the aftermath of Asia’s biggest disaster will guide our operations as the community starts the long road to recovery.