Burma Cyclone Relief Update

The suffering of the people of Burma is only partially due to the natural disaster – this is now a human-made disaster brought on by a callous regime. We can get around the regime and get your donation to the people the regime is ignoring. Our partner organisation Norwegian People’s Aid have been working with local grassroots organisations to assist those affected by the cyclone, this has proven to be one of the most effective ways to offer assistance as their local partners have been assisting people for weeks – even before the regime admitted it needed international assistance.

People waiting to receive food rations (Photo: Mizzima)

The people of Burma have started to protest their governments criminal inaction and to demand international aid five weeks after Cyclone Nargis.

Two hundred survivors from East Dagon Wards 1,2,3 and 4 gathered outside the ICRC offices at 9.30 am, 10th June. They were compelled to take action out of sheer frustration at barely surviving on the aid provided by private donors, and were asking to receive international aid directly.

Military intelligence agents and members of the USDA (a Junta backed group) dispersed the crowd. Two volunteers in the relief effort, Kyaw Kyaw Than and Eaint Khaing Oo (a reporter for Ecovision), were arrested for supporting the cyclone victims' calls.

ASEAN assessment teams are reporting that the human toll from Cyclone Nargis ranges from 130,000 to as high as 300,000 deaths. The people affected and in need of relief in the Irrawaddy Delta range from 2.5 million to four million.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's Cyclone Relief Appeal has raised funds to go to our partner on the ground Norwegian People's Aid.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has a close relationship with Norwegian People's Aid who are a Union-based agency aligned with us through the Solidar network. Both Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and Norwegian People's Aid are resolute that aid will go to the people in who most need it.

Norwegian People's Aid in Rangoon are working closely with local grassroots organizations staffed by Burmese nationals in order to be able to respond to the disaster. Norwegian People's Aid is working with four local partner agencies on the ground. They cannot be named because they do not want their activities jeopardized.

The first of NPA's partner agencies is operating two IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, one in Pathein sheltering 2800 IDPs, and one in Myaungmya with 600 IDPs this local partner is also supporting 44 villages in the Labutta Township, reaching around 17,000 beneficiaries.

Another of NPA's partners has started work to supplement the basic assistance with trauma-healing teams and management for the many volunteers. Their main focus is children which have been made orphans after the cyclone.

NPA supporting the work of a third existing partner, they are assisting about 115 000 people in four locations in the delta with 42 staff and over 115 volunteers.

A fourth partner organization of NPA is currently making an assessment to provide food and shelter in Dedaye Township. This area is believed to have been less covered by assistance than many other areas, especially from the international community. NPA is anticipating that it will be acting to assist this organization reach the people of Dedaye Township soon.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has just received word from our partner, the Mae Tao Clinic, that cyclone survivors are beginning to arrive in the refugee camps - because they have been unable to receive assistance in Burma. We are monitoring the situation and providing we reach our target of assistance to NPA, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA may divert some funds raised to assist the camps and medical clinics on the Thai-Burma Border to assist with the influx of refugees.

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

Telephone: 1800 888 674 Fax: (02) 9261 1118

Email: office@apheda.org.au

Or Online - Please follow the steps below. We suggest that you leave this browser open and click here to reopen a new browser or alternatively print off this page

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

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Last Modified: Sunday, 29-Jun-2008 15:15:17 EST
This page: http://apheda.org.au/news/1213690279_23507.html