Supplies of aid to the multitudes affected by the devastating cyclone in Myanmar last week are gradually scaling up, according to Red Cross Red Crescent workers in the southeast Asian nation. In recent days over 220,000 people have received some form of aid from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), other organizations and the general public. Over 80,000 of them have been served by Myanmar Red Cross.
“All type of supplies have been issued,” said Michael Annear, regional disaster management coordinator with the International Federation. “Food, hygiene kits, water purification tablets, mosquito nets, sanitary supplies and most importantly shelter materials.”
An International Federation-chartered plane carrying six tones of shelter materials (tarpaulins, poles and tools) arrived in Yangon on 8 May and another plane arrived today (9 May) with a further eight tones of similar materials.
“Shelter material is an absolute priority now, although we are keeping a very close eye on the health situation”, said Annear. “With a lot of stagnant water around we are already hearing reports of isolated outbreaks of intestinal and mosquito-borne diseases.”
The International Federation team in Myanmar was swelled on Friday by the arrival of an assessment team made up of representatives from the German, Irish and Danish Red Cross.
They will contribute to the analysis of information currently being fed in by eight Myanmar Red Cross assessment teams who are working around the capital and the worst affected areas of the Irawaddy delta.
While Yangon and its population of six million is estimated to be less heavily affected than regions further south, the damage in the city is staggering. Hundreds of Myanmar Red Cross volunteers are contributing to the cleanup, which has already led to more freely flowing traffic, though everywhere one looks there are roofs torn off buildings, trees down, advertising hoardings twisted into bizarre shapes and lamp-posts smashed like matchsticks.
Many, many thousands of people are homeless and are living in pitiable conditions. Hospitals, schools and other large buildings are crammed with the displaced. We saw evidence that some aid, such as newly-installed or repaired pumps are working, but the water around and near these buildings is blacky-brown and foul-smelling.
The Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation works closely with government officials, sharing information as it comes in, gradually forming a picture of the myriad needs in this devastation and highly-complex natural disaster. Regular coordination meetings with other organizations are held in Myanmar, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Geneva.
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A typical scene of destruction 30 kilometres from the centre of Yangon. (p17597)
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Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced following the destruction of their homes. Many are living in schools, hospitals and other public buildings, with no electricity, running water or sanitation. There are fears of outbreaks of disease as water levels remain high. (p17598)
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A small boy plays in a pool of water near his home on the outskirts of Yangon. The water, blacky-brown and foul smelling, is exposing many people to serious water-borne diseases.(p17600)
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