WESTPORT, Conn., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the death toll in
Myanmar continues to rise as a result of Cyclone Nargis and as hardships
for hundreds of thousands of survivors left in its wake increase, Save the
Children is mounting a rapid response to provide lifesaving relief to
children and families in five regions hit hardest by the storm.
Save the Children staff members have reached 63,000 people with
life-saving materials including food, water, and materials for shelter, but
concern is growing that thousands of survivors may die if clean water and
other materials are not provided within the next few days.
Andrew Kirkwood, Save the Children's country director in Myanmar,
reports that in the delta region of Irrawaddy, staff members have seen many
corpses rotting where the waters have receded. Staff members also report
that in the Pyinkaya area, south-west of the delta, isolated people are
dying of hunger and thirst for lack of humanitarian assistance. Such
conditions lend themselves to outbreaks of water-borne diseases, which
could increase the death toll.
Throughout the delta region, known as the country's rice bowl, many
villages have been devastated, with thousands of homes destroyed, and more
than 3,000 schools damaged. The low-lying Irawaddy Delta suffered the
effects of a sizable storm surge and many areas remain underwater,
hampering efforts to reach families in need. Much of the delta is reachable
only by boat.
Since Monday, 1,000 bags of rice, 20 rolls of tarpaulin, sugar and salt
have reached Pathein, where Save the Children has set up one of its bases
of operations. The agency plans to use boats to transport materials to
hard-to-reach locations.
"Save the Children is mobilizing its 500 employees in 35 offices across
the affected region to assist vulnerable children and families who have
lost their homes in this most recent disaster," said Ned Olney, Save the
Children's vice president for international humanitarian response. "Shelter
materials, clean water, mosquito nets and emergency health kits are
critical needs at this time -- and we are moving quickly to provide these
lifesaving items."
Authorities have declared five regions with an estimated total
population of 24 million to be in a state of emergency, including Yangon
(Rangoon) Division, Pegu Division, Mon State, Karen State and the Irrawaddy
Division. This delta is considered to be the country's rice basket and
already, the cost of food has doubled in many markets.
"The impending rainy season is likely to complicate an already
desperate situation," said Olney. "The current lack of clean water will
directly impact the health of children and their parents. And standing
water only increases the possibility of an outbreak of waterborne illness.
We need to move aid quickly to alleviate current hardships and mitigate the
potential for a greater crisis."
Save the Children has raised nearly $1.5 million dollars in donations
from individuals, corporations and foundations for its response to help
children and families affected by Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar's
southwestern coast early on Saturday, May 3. The global humanitarian
organization, based in Westport, CT, has received an additional $2 million
through gift-in-kind donations. Save the Children worldwide is seeking $10
million in donations for its relief efforts.
Save the Children currently operates programs in all five of the
affected regions and has worked in Myanmar since 1995. As one of the
largest nongovernmental organizations at work in Myanmar, the agency
implements programs focused on early childhood care and development, child
survival and child protection. All staff members are safe and accounted
for, although their homes and families have been affected.
SOURCE Save the Children
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.savechildren.org
CONTACT:
Eileen Burke, +1-203-216-0718,
eburke@savechildren.org, or Wendy Christian, +1-203-241-9722,
wchristian@savechildren.org, both of Save the Children
|
