Plan steps up Myanmar aid

A child made homeless by Cyclone Nargis carries a bundle of rescued belongings on her head PHOTO: REUTERS/ Stringer (courtesy www.alertnet.org)

21 May 2008: Plan is stepping up its efforts to provide emergency relief to children among the estimated 2,500,000 people in Myanmar whose lives have been turned upside down by Cyclone Nargis.

An initial US$50,000 has already been transferred to FED, a local partner, allowing them to deploy additional staff and to distribute medical supplies and other emergency relief to children and families who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

The US$50,000 will be swiftly followed by the rest of Plan’s US$300,000 emergency fund to help victims of the cyclone which has left an estimated 130,000 people dead or missing.

Vital relief

The fund will be used to provide anti-diarrhoea, anti-bacterial and anti-malarial drugs, bandages and saline drips as well as emergency non-food items such as shelters, mosquito nets, axes and sarongs.

But efforts to provide relief to children and families affected by the cyclone have been hampered by the reluctance of the Myanmar government to allow foreign non-governmental organisations free access to affected areas.

Delay in distributing relief increases the likelihood of a serious outbreak of disease which would push the death toll even higher.

Ground support

Plan now has a presence on the ground and is currently in discussions with other local partners, including Merlin, to ensure help reaches the largest number of affected children as quickly as possible.

Plan had no staff in Myanmar before the cyclone but is ideally placed to offer expert assistance as it has experienced staff working in neighbouring countries, many of whom were heavily involved in the relief effort following the Asian tsunami.

Make a donation

Please make a donation to the appeals being run by Plan's fundraising organisations to aid the victims of Cyclone Nargis:

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