Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis

• Cyclone Nargis: Major milestones reached, but more humanitarian work still to be done
• Cyclone Nargis one year on: Red Cross recovery efforts continue in Myanmar

Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis

	Volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross Society loading relief items bound for the Irrawaddy delta.
	Rice being unloaded and delivered to cyclone survivors by volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

A devastating cyclone hit Myanmar on May 2nd leaving a trail of unimaginable destruction in its wake. Latest official figures indicate that more than 84,500 people are dead and over 2.4 million have been affected.

Local Red Cross volunteers continue to be on the frontline, providing emergency assistance, shelter, access to safe drinking water, first aid and psychological support.  In some areas, the Red Cross is the only organization to have provided assistance to vulnerable communities. 

To date, the Red Cross has provided over 500,000 beneficiaries with emergency relief including water, food, shelter and relief supplies.

Once immediate needs have been met people will need help rebuilding their homes, communities and lives.

Canadians wishing to help people affected by the cyclone are encouraged to contribute by donating  online, at one of the nine financial institutions, calling 1-800-418-1111 or contacting their local Red Cross office. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Myanmar Cyclone” and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2.

News Releases

07/17/08	Canadian Red Cross aid worker returns from Myanmar cyclone zone
05/16/08	Red Cross continues to assist disaster survivors in Myanmar and China
05/12/08	Red Cross establishes relief pipeline into Myanmar
05/10/08	Red Cross relief operation continues as more aid arrives in Yangon
05/08/08	First Red Cross relief flight lands in Myanmar
05/06/08	Thousands of Myanmar Red Cross volunteers respond as Canadian Red Cross launches emergency appeal

News:

• Myanmar: village life in the balance
• Myanmar: Ayeyarwady’s anguish
• Myanmar: finding ways to address urgent water and sanitation needs»
• Myanmar: relief operation underway as full extent of devastation becomes clear

Donate Now!

In-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries. Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Red Cross supplies can be purchased in the immediate area, thereby reducing transportation costs. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs.

Posted May 5, 2008/Updated July 17, 2008