Partnerships Bring Aid to Myanmar

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Serving the Displaced in Myanmar—Cyclone Relief
Food for the Hungry (FH) is working through an existing network of local partners to aid in Myanmar's recovery from Cyclone Nargis, which struck the country on May 3, 2008, and was followed by a tidal wave. Officials estimate the death toll in Myanmar (also known as Burma) exceeds 134,000.

More than 2.5 million people were impacted. Many of those people are now displaced. Through initial disaster relief efforts, FH has provided food, clean water and medicine to vulnerable children and families. FH is working for longer term reconstruction with partners including the Myanmar Christian Coalition for Cyclone Relief, a coalition made up of churches and Christian organizations within Myanmar.

Ongoing recovery efforts underway include building capacity of Burmese community leaders to improve their disaster assessment skills and project management ability, in order to serve as leaders in reconstruction. Displaced people are being given materials for home reconstruction, household supplies, devices for decontaminating water and tools and seeds for agricultural recovery. A UN official recently said that the cyclone and flooding have "potentially serious affects for food supply in this already impoverished country." FH has submitted a proposal for a "cash-for-work" program to the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and awaits a funding decision.

Please help Food for the Hungry continue to help the people of Myanmar recover from this devastation.

Updated: 06/03
Through Food for the Hungry’s existing network of local partners, needy families in Myanmar are receiving food, clean water, medicine and shelter. Food for the Hungry relief staff are also pursuing further partnership opportunities for both emergency response and for long-term reconstruction.

Amidst worries of another storm bearing down on Myanmar, our Food for the Hungry partners are reporting that the situation in Yangon is harsh, “Trees are down everywhere. A lot of the roofs are off. Power is down.” In neighboring Bangladesh, Food for the Hungry's disaster relief team, which specializes in flood and cyclone relief, is standing by to mobilize and work in Myanmar at moment's notice. Last November this team responded with swift expertise when Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh.

The Facts:
Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, also known as Burma, on May 3, with a devastating tidal surge and 150mph winds. Torrents of rain pummeled the low-lying Irrawaddy river delta, destroying large areas of rice fields and leaving millions homeless. Official reports put the death toll as high as 100,000 with another 40,000 missing.

Initially the government refused entry visas to foreign aid agencies, but has since permitted entrance to a few. Please pray that all aid agencies will be allowed to provide much-needed assistance to the suffering people of Myanmar and that a quick response will save the lives of many.

Please help us bring emergency supplies to the affected families in Myanmar. Through your generous support we can bring the message of God’s love and hope in the midst of suffering.