Essential relief supplies are beginning to reach Myanmar, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies sending its first consignment of essential supplies today.
However, getting help from Yangon to the worst affected areas is still a challenge, explains John Sparrow, the International Federation’s Kuala-Lumpur based spokesman for the operation. “Even in the best of times, it takes two days to reach the delta,” he said. “You can imagine what it's like when bridges are out, roads are out and half the countryside is under water.”
With access so difficult, the full burden of the relief distribution outside the main city is borne by staff and volunteers of the Myanmar Red Cross, many of whom have been directly affected by the disaster. Over the past days, these teams of volunteers have been delivering basic relief items such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets, potable water and water purification tablets, as well as carrying out preliminary assessments.
With ports severely damaged by Cyclone Nargis, air fright is the only way that relief goods can reach the country. The International Federation has organized shipments into the country, on chartered planes – the first of which left Kuala Lumpur left today – and on commercial flights. The planes will take shelter tool kits, tarpaulins and jerry cans. The International Federation is also working on bringing logistic specialists into the country to assist Myanmar Red Cross.
In the meantime, reports concerning the number of deaths still vary wildly. According to official reports on Wednesday 7 May, 22,000 have been killed, though new reports suggest that this figure could be much higher.
The International Federation is preparing to send a field assessment and coordination team into the area. This team will help coordinate the efforts of Red Cross volunteers that have already been through some of the worst affected areas, assessing damage and needs of communities. The data that is currently available to the International Federation suggests that at least or more than 1 million people might have lost their homes when the cyclone struck on 2 May.
To fund the relief efforts, the International Federation has launched a preliminary emergency appeal for 6.29 million Swiss francs (USD 5.9 million/€ 3.86 million).
“We expect this figure and the operation to be revised as more information comes to hand,” explained Christine South, the International Federation’ operations coordinator for Asia Pacific.
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Family members sit in their home destroyed by cyclone Nargis at a Myanmar town of Bogalay, southwest of Yangon May 8, 2008. Survivors with harrowing tales of villages smashed by cyclone Nargis are paddling wooden boats to the Myanmar town of Bogalay to find whole streets destroyed and food and water scarce. (REUTERS/Strringer/courtesy www.alertnet.org)
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A woman cooks food for her family at her home destroyed by cyclone Nargis at a Myanmar town of Bogalay, southwest of Yangon May 8, 2008. (REUTERS/Strringer/courtesy www.alertnet.org)
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