Burma Cyclone Relief Appeal

‘This is a humanitarian disaster on an unimaginable scale and we are asking all Australians to donate through Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA to the disaster relief work already underway by Norwegian People’s Aid and grassroots organisations on the ground’ said Sharan Burrow of the ACTU.

Monks help clean up after the Cyclone Nargis

Union Aid Abroad is responding to the humanitarian crisis in Burma through one of our 'sister' SOLIDAR agencies, Norwegian People's Aid. Solidar is an alliance of workers' organisations based in Europe and Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and Norwegian People's Aid are both members, therefore we are working in unison to assist the people of Burma.

The current situation in Burma:

The situation is grim. Now, two weeks days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Rangoon, local residents are still fending for themselves with little or no help from local authorities. There are reports of tens of thousands of lives lost and we can only expect that number to grow as long as aid delivery is delayed by the military Junta.

People now are in desperate need for food, water, shelter and medical aid. The people responding to their needs have been the monks of Burma who are sheltering people in their monasteries and providing as much food aid and water as they can. 'Most people are homeless, without water and without electricity. I believe that soon our people will be starving,' said a resident from Shwepyithar Township. 'Most people are drinking dirty water.'

Norwegian People's Aid has now managed to access the effected delta region and has begun distributing relief to those who need it. Both NPA and Union Aid Abroad- APHEDA are determined to get aid to the people in greatest need with your assistance.

Funds raised by Australian people through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA:

These funds will go directly to Norwegian People's Aid's Rangoon office who will work with grassroots associations in Burma to get aid to people in need.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has a close relationship with both Norwegian People's Aid and the National Council of Unions in Burma and are resolute that aid will go to the people in who most need it. Those people who were already made vulnerable by the military regime and who have been made desperate by this cyclone.

Union Aid Abroad does not run operational programs in Burma so our aid effort will be channelled through international and local aid agencies with a mixture of cash funding, technical expertise and equipment.

Union Aid Abroad has a history of implementing effective humanitarian programs, including responding to large scale natural disasters in South East Asia.

Top priorities for aid are of course clean water, food, shelter and medical assistance.

Please give generously to the people of Burma at this desperate time

How to make your donation to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's Burma Cyclone Appeal

Telephone: 1800 888 674 Fax: (02) 9261 1118 or email: office@apheda.org.au for enquiries:

Cheques: can be made out to Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA and posted to:
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, Level 3, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

Or Online - Please follow the steps below. You may wish to print off this page of instructions.

To make an online donation with your credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) simply:

1. Click here to access the secure online donation form

2. Go to Section C ONE-OFF DONATIONS and select One-off donation - Burma refugees from the drop-down menu

3. Enter your donation amount in the $ box at right

4. Click Continue

5. Enter your credit card payment details (Visa and Mastercard only accepted)

6. Enter your contact details and please type "CYCLONE APPEAL" after your name in the name field to ensure that your donation is directed to our appeal.

7. Click Finalise Order to send your donation

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Thursday, 29-May-2008 12:08:38 EST
This page: http://apheda.org.au/news/1210217214_29405.html