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Save the Children Provides Assistance to Thousands Left Homeless by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
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A crowded street in Myanmar following Cyclone Nargis. WPN / Will Baxter |
Westport, Conn. (May 6, 2008) — As the death toll in Myanmar continues to rise as a result of Cyclone Nargis which struck the country's southwest coast on Saturday, May 3, Save the Children staff members have launched relief efforts in five regions hardest hit by the storm.
Officials are estimating that 22,000 have died from the storm, with as many as 1 million left homeless. Save the Children estimates that the death toll could reach up to 50,000 with 2-3 million children and family members homeless and in desperate need of water, food, shelter and medicine.
Since Monday, Save the Children has distributed 2 metric tons of food, plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, kitchen equipment, re-hydration salts and other non food items to over 30,000 children and families whose homes have been destroyed.
"Save the Children is mobilizing its staff of 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. "We have started emergency distributions and are hopeful to increase our coverage in the days ahead."
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.
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.
