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Save the Children Reaches 50,000 People in Myanmar, Continuing Efforts to Assist Thousands Left Homeless by Cyclone Nargis
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People wash up and collect water on a street in Yangon after Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar's main city on Saturday. REUTERS / Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org |
Westport, Conn. (May 7, 2008) — As the death toll in Myanmar continues to rise as a result of Cyclone Nargis and as hardships for thousands of survivors left in its wake increase, Save the Children is mounting a rapid response to provide lifesaving relief to children and families in five regions hit hardest by the storm.
The cyclone, which struck Myanmar's southwestern coast early on Saturday, May 3, has killed more than 22,000 people and left more than 1 million people homeless, according to government sources. Save the Children staff in the area report that many villages are devastated, with some up to 90 percent destroyed. The low-lying Irawaddy Delta suffered the effects of a sizable storm surge and many areas remain underwater, hampering efforts to reach families in need. Much of the delta is reachable only by boat.
Since Monday, Save the Children has distributed two metric tons of food, plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, kitchen equipment, rehydration salts and other non-food items to over 50,000 children and families whose homes have been destroyed. Additional trucks left this morning for Pathein carrying food and non-food items.
"Save the Children is mobilizing its 500 employees in 35 offices across the affected region to assist vulnerable children and families who have lost their homes in this most recent disaster," said Ned Olney, Save the Children's vice president for international humanitarian response. "Shelter materials, clean water, mosquito nets and emergency health kits are critical needs at this time—and we are moving quickly to provide these lifesaving items."
Authorities have declared five regions with an estimated total population of 24 million to be in a state of emergency, including Yangon (Rangoon) Division, Pegu Division, Mon State, Karen State and the Irrawaddy Division. This delta is considered to be the country's rice basket and already, the cost of food has doubled in many markets.
"The impending rainy season is likely to complicate an already desperate situation," said Olney. "The current lack of clean water will directly impact the health of children and their parents. And standing water only increases the possibility of an outbreak of waterborne illness. We need to move aid quickly to alleviate current hardships and mitigate the potential for a greater crisis."
Save the Children currently operates programs in all five of the affected regions and has worked in Myanmar since 1995. As one of the largest nongovernmental organizations at work in Myanmar, the agency implements programs focused on early childhood care and development, child survival and child protection. All staff members are safe and accounted for, although their homes and families have been affected.
