Tuesday 13 May 2008

Local Church partners of Caritas Australia are providing food and other aid items to thousands of those affected in Yangon and Irrawaddy. That figure is expected to rise to 40,000 people who are receiving support by tomorrow.

Provisional figures put the relief effort at US $1 million for the first month. The relief items are being sourced within country at present – and supplies are running low.

"Our local partners are delivering food, water, shelter and medical treatment to over 16000 people in Pathein and Yangon districts," said Caritas Australia CEO Jack de Groot.

"Teams of doctors and nurses are volunteering their time and being coordinated through the Archbishop of Yangon, Charles Bo’s, office. Local partners are also involved in training volunteers and marshalling volunteer teams to conduct assessments, logistics and camp management," said Mr de Groot.

The storm hit the Irrawaddy Delta region on 3 May and up to 102,000 people are confirmed dead, with parts of the country still cut off and 1.9 million people affected. The death toll is expected to rise further with over 220,000 still missing.

"With torrential rains expected over the coming week the need for access for supplies and personnel is crucial," said Mr de Groot.

Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon said: "as a Church, we are reaching out to the victims with all the means at our disposal. At this hour of darkness, we are encouraged by the show of support by our friends from abroad. There are urgent needs for food, water and shelter. Thousands are in need of medical help."

Assessment teams have reported back with one staff member, speaking anonymously, saying: "I was in Phyapon, far off down the Irrawaddy River. We reached a destroyed village. To my eyes, that have seen the Asia tsunami and the Kashmir earthquake, it was overwhelming. Women explained how the waves took their babies. As our boat moved along.
 
"People have no drinking water or food or shelter. Children are eating coconut shells. Dead animals are everywhere. There were many refugees, living in roofless churches and monasteries. Help has not reached them. We are doing what is possible. In the last two days, we have reached out to the starving people."
 
Caritas Australia is part of the international Caritas network of 162 members responding to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and providing technical support to local Church partners.

Caritas Australia is conducting an appeal to assist those affected. To donate to Caritas Australia’s Burma Cyclone Appeal call 1800 024 413 or via www.caritas.org.au or GPO Box 9830 in your capital city.