Myanmar: ADRA Continues Response to Cyclone Nargis
8th May, 2008
Wahroonga, New South Wales — The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its response in Myanmar (Burma) with food assistance and emergency response personnel, following a category 4 cyclone that devastated vast regions of the country on the weekend.
In partnership with the World Food Program (WFP), ADRA Myanmar is coordinating the delivery of up to 250 metric tons of rice to people in the Labutta area, in the Ayeryarwaddy Delta Division, which has an estimated 80,000 dead and up to 120,000 homeless. This initial distribution of food will provide for 20,000 people for 30 days.
The international ADRA network is also sending a team of emergency response specialists to work with ADRA Myanmar staff to meet the immense needs of those affected by the storm, which is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people and left more than one million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
ADRA Myanmar’s Associate Country Director, Teddy Din, who was in Labutta during the storm, reported the severity of the devastation. “The houses are all gone, as well as the hospital,” said Mr Din. “The tidal surge from the sea was so strong it took less than an hour to sweep people, whether alive or dead, up the river to a point it would normally take three hours by boat to get to.”
ADRA has also despatched an assessment team to better determine needs and, following these critical assessments, will work in partnership with other response agencies to expand its work to support those affected. Aid agencies acknowledge that movement around and communication in the affected areas are extremely difficult.
ADRA Myanmar has a staff of 170 and has been working in the country for 15 years, providing support to poor communities in the areas of food security, health, education and water and sanitation.
The ADRA network, including ADRA Australia, has collectively allocated up to US$250,000 as an initial response to this disaster. To support ADRA Australia during times of emergency, donations can be made to ADRA’s Disaster and Famine Relief Fund by calling 1800 242 372 or visiting www.adra.org.au
ADRA Australia is a non-government organisation (NGO)
engaging in sustainable community development and emergency management for
people in
Media Enquiries:
Candice Jaques
p 02 9489 5488
m 0407 172 305
e news@adra.org.au
www.adra.org.au
