Press Release
British Red Cross launches urgent Burma appeal
5 May 2008
The British Red Cross (BRC) is launching an urgent appeal to help those affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma).
An immediate £30,000 from the BRC Disaster Fund has already been released as part of an initial response to the devastation.
The Myanmar Red Cross has mobilised more than 17,000 volunteers who are distributing thousands of ‘family kits’ containing basic cooking equipment and utensils to those affected.
Drinking water, clothing, tarpaulins for shelter and hygiene kits, as well as bed nets to protect against malaria and water purification tablets are also among items being distributed.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has released 200,000 Swiss Francs (£96,000) to support the Red Cross relief effort and a further appeal for several million Francs is expected to be launched later today.
Having received the green light from the Myanmar government, emergency relief supplies, including shelter kits of plastic tarpaulins, nails and tools with which to construct basic shelters, are set to be flown to Myanmar today (May 5) from Red Cross warehouses in Kuala Lumpur.
"This is clearly a major disaster with reports of thousands dead and, from latest estimates, around a million people made homeless," said Matthias Schmale head of the British Red Cross’ international division.
"Red Cross relief workers were on the ground soon after the storm hit, assessing the situation in the district of Yangon. Additional Red Cross assessment teams are in some of the most affected areas of Irrawaddy and Bago Divisions and Karen and Mon States.
"The British Red Cross will be doing all it can to continue to support the relief effort to make sure those affected by Cyclone Nargis receive the help they desperately need."
To donate to the BRC Disaster relief fund visit www.redcross.org.uk/myanmarappeal call 0845 53 53 53, or postal donations can be sent to PO Box 1217, Sunderland, SR9 9WD.
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