Monday, May 05, 2008

Help victims of the Myanmar cyclone



Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, also known as Burma with winds of up to 120 mph, leaving thousands dead and hundreds of thousands more people homeless. Restrictions on international aid have slowed down assessment and relief operations. InterAction members are responding to this crisis through a variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to: emergency medical assistance, transitional shelter, provision of non-food items, and debris clearing.

Help the victims by making a donation to one of these agencies below preparing supplies to be delivered as quickly as possible.

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Action Against Hunger; preparing to launch an emergency intervention of water purifying tablets, water, rehabilitation/protection of water points, essential non-food items and emergency shelters, hygiene promotion, environmental clearing/clean up, food, cash and/or vouchers

ActionAid; working in Irrawaddy, identifying the key needs of the affected population along with local partners to supply funding and emergency response

Air Serv; is preparing to be a first responder, with helicopters ready to deliver crucial supplies and relief workers

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC); mobilizing large-scale relief effort with international partners; dispatching rescue workers; sending medical supplies; assessing longer-term development needs

American Red Cross; has pledged funds and supplies in support of Myanmar Red Cross's efforts distributing drinking water, clothing, food, plastic tarpaulins and hygiene kits

American Refugee Committee; working to distribute emergency supplies; pending approval of entry visas a rapid assessment team will be deployed to the region

AmeriCares; assembling life-saving medical and other humanitarian supplies to be shipped immediately to partners on the ground in Myanmar

Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team; sending a relief team from SE Asia to Burma

Baptist World Alliance; has pledged $50,000 to assist with emergency relief efforts and is coordinating relief efforts with Baptists around the world

Catholic Relief Services; supporting the emergency relief and response efforts of the Caritas Internationalis network

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee; is appealing for funds and planning immediate intervention that includes shelter, water, and kitchen and medical supplies

Church World Service; coordinating relief operations with a comprehensive assessment on-going

Direct Relief International; partnering in Thailand and other neighboring countries to offer assistance to medical relief efforts for people affected by the storm

Doctors Without Borders; distributing food, plastic sheeting, jerry cans and fuel for water pumps, and treating water; planning a mosquito-net distribution in the coming days to prevent malaria and and dengue fever

Global Giving; providing emergency medical care, shelter, water and food and other immediate needs

Habitat for Humanity; assembling a technical team to partner with other organizations in support of long-term shelter reconstruction efforts

International Committee of the Red Cross; distributing preliminary and essential relief items - mosquito nets, tarpaulins, water and purification tablets

International Medical Corps; securing emergency supplies including medical supplies, blankets, water purification tablets, sanitation items and hygiene kits

International Rescue Committee; deploying operations, logistics, water and sanitation experts and hopes to bring in medical staff soon for an operation that would provide clean water, sanitation services, shelter materials, other urgent supplies and health care

Latter-day Saint Charities; have a field team in-country and cooperating with other international agencies in disaster response

Lutheran World Relief; assessing the situation and planning a response on behalf of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) network

MAP International; working with partner organizations on the ground in Myanmar and other international agencies in order to assess the situation and respond

Mercy Corps; helping partners on the ground bring relief to affected families

Operation USA; responding with shelter, water purification and health care supplies after an assessment is completed by staff currently in the area

Oxfam; sending aid through partner organizations with a mixture of cash funding, technical expertise and equipment where required

Save the Children; distributing food, plastic sheeting, water purification tablets and other non food items

The Salvation Army; dispensing rice, clean water and other relief

UNICEF; providing child protection, water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and education

United Methodist Committee on Relief; continues to monitor the situation and expects to respond to help the people of Myanmar recover as opportunities become available

World Concern; pending a needs-assessment, expecting that to follow-up with food, water, and other basic needs

World Food Programme; distributing food in cyclone-damaged areas of Yangon

World Vision; providing assistance in the form of zinc sheets, tents, tarpaulins, and medicine