 |
 |
| On 2 May 2008 tropical cyclone Nargis hit the coast of Myanmar and devastated large parts of the low-lying delta region of the Irrawaddy River. Winds exceeded 190 kilometres per hour as the storm ripped through the Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon (estimated population 6 million) for over than ten hours. Homes were flattened, more sturdy structures damaged, trees uprooted and power lines downed. In rural parts of the country up to 95 per cent of all homes were destroyed.
This is a situation that the country has not dealt with before and the scale of the needs is clearly massive. Casualty figures continue to rise. The data that is currently available to the International Federation suggests that up to 1 million people might have lost their homes. |
|
| Press
releases |
|
|
| Operation
updates and appeals |
|
|
|
| Photo
galleries |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Multimedia |
 High-resolution satellite images of the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis (requires Google Earth) |
|
| Related
news stories |
 11 May 2008
Disaster strikes aid shipment in Myanmar
The International Federation and Myanmar Red Cross aid effort to survivors of Cyclone Nargis suffered a blow early on Sunday 11 May when the first aid shipment travelling by river to the disaster area sank. It is believed that the cargo ship carrying relief supplies for over 1,000 people hit a submerged tree trunk and started taking on water.
 Read
the full story |
|
 9 May 2008
Aid moving out in Myanmar but more needed
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.
Read
the full story
|
|
 8 May 2008
Myanmar: momentum begins to build in relief operation
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
Read
the full story |
|
 6 May 2008
Myanmar: relief operation underway as full extent of devastation becomes clear
Latest reports from Myanmar indicate that the destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis is considerably larger than originally anticipated. According to state media, the government of the South-East Asian country believes that as many as 15,000 people have died with an additional 30,000 said to be missing. This makes Nargis the deadliest storm to hit Asia since 1991.
Read
the full story |
|
| Make
a donation |
|
|
| Map |
 |
|
