Red
Cross volunteers took an active part in providing first aid
and transporting injured people to hospital when three explosions
hit two shopping areas and a trade fair in Yangon, the capital
city of Myanmar, last Saturday.
According to a state media report, 11 people were killed and
more than 160 people were injured in the near simultaneous blasts
which took place at around 1500.
Altogether 136 of the injured are still in one of five public
hospitals across Yangon as of Sunday, many of them in a critical
condition, raising fears that the death toll may rise.
Two blasts occurred at two of the five City Mart chains in Yangon.
The other explosion occurred at the Yangon Trade Centre where
the biannual Thailand Exhibition was being held.
Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) staff and volunteers were mobilised
within the first hours at all of the hospitals and some of the
injured were taken to the hospitals by Red Cross ambulances.
“I heard the bomb blast at the Trade Centre soon after
the Red Cross staff came to report on the availability of an
ambulance,” said Dr. Hla Myint, Head of the Yangon Division
Health Department and Chairman of the Divisional Red Cross Chapter.
“I then made arrangements for the ambulance to take the
injured to the hospitals.”
In the hospitals, the Red Cross volunteers took care of the
injured, helped their family members and contacted relatives
when the injured were on their own.
Meanwhile, 60 Red Cross volunteers on Saturday evening donated
blood for those affected by the blasts. Volunteers from across
the country were in the capital on an annual one-week camp which
extended up to May 10.
Myo Min Naung, a volunteer from a suburban township of Yangon
who was at the camp, said: “As soon as we heard the reports
of the bomb blasts we organized among ourselves to donate blood.
We then sought permission from the executive director and rushed
to the Yangon General Hospital, which is just across the street
from the camp venue.”
On Sunday, the MRCS organised three groups, including the President,
the Honorary Secretary and other members of the governance,
as well as staff and volunteers and between them visited all
the hospitals where the injured were being admitted to deliver
family packs and speak words of encouragement.
“About two-thirds of the injured were suffering from burns,”
Honorary Secretary Dr. Tun Sein said.
More than 100 staff and volunteers were involved in the Red
Cross response and some of them are providing psychological
support to those who have been traumatised by the bomb blasts
and the panic caused by them.
MRCS staff and volunteers prepared 140 family packs provided
by the International Federation on Sunday and distributed to
all families who had a family member killed or injured by the
blasts.
The kits contain the standard list of clothing, mosquito net
and blanket, kitchen utensils and hygiene materials. Food items
and other supplies were given by the Yangon City Council, and
private companies and individuals.
Governance members and staff of the MRCS also visited two Malaysian
nationals who were injured in the blasts, informed the Malaysian
embassy and offered to provide further assistance if necessary.
Delegates from the International Federation and International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the hospitals Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday. The Federation has supported the MRCS in
the local procurement of urgently needed medical supplies and
medicaments that were provided to the five hospitals on Tuesday
afternoon.
The ICRC delegation in Myanmar is working with the MRCS and
Federation to assist in the purchase and delivery of medical
supplies.
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Myanmar
Red Cross Society President Dr. Hla Myint (second from
right) and Honorary Secretary Dr. Tun Sein (right) offer
words of encouragement to an injured person at the Intensive
Care Unit of Yangon General Hospital on Sunday (p12850)
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Myanmar
Red Cross national headquarters staff and volunteers prepare
family packs for families affected by the bomb attacks
(p12851)
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The
Myanmar Red Cross Society executive director hands over
medicines and medical supplies at Yangon East Hospital
(p12852)
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