Plan assist victims of Burma (Myanmar) cyclone

An appeal launched to assist those affected by the destruction of large areas of Burma (Myanmar) by the cyclone last May has been successful in producing encouraging results, especially given operational difficulties. Plan staff worked with local organisations to provide emergency aid, and have been involved in rebuilding facilities, including disaster resistant ones.

REUTERS courtesy www.alertnet.org

The UN estimates that 2.4 million people have been affected by the devastation wreaked by cyclone Nargis, with the death toll thought to be over 100,000.

Mobile phone lines and communications towers were down, which has hampered reporting from the traumatised country. Throughout the city, water supplies are contaminated and transportation was virtually impossible.

The scale of the disaster response is now being talked about in "tsunami" proportions, requiring longer term investment.

Funds were initially used for immediate emergency response, paying for emergency non-food items, 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 were distributed.

Partnerships with Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), local NGOs the Metta Foundation and Yinthway Foundation, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Organisation have enabled longer term reconstruction projects in the region. These have included building new schools and Early Childhood Care and Development facilities, many of which have been built to be disaster resistant.