DEC member agencies warn that supplies will run out unless more aid is allowed in the country

As the total raised to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal reaches £5 million, aid from DEC member agencies is getting through in increased amounts, but much more is desperately needed.

Saturday 10 May 2008

Three Red Cross planes arrived last night with shelter material which has been distributed by the Myanmar Red Cross. In total 220,000 people have received hygiene supplies, food and water purification tablets from local Red Cross staff.

Care International's emergency assessment teams have returned to Yangon from Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta region with reports of massive destruction.

"We're purchasing supplies in Yangon to ensure our distribution to the Irrawaddy delta of food and water happens immediately". Says Dr Julia Newton-Howes, CARE International spokesperson. "It is essential that the UN and government authorities agree on an appropriate mechanism for the entry of staff and the receipt and distribution of goods," she stressed.

Merlin is on the ground now in some of the hardest to reach areas, doing everything they can to save lives. Carolyn Miller, Merlin's Chief Executive said: "It's vital that Merlin and other aid agencies on the ground are given the support needed to scale up our emergency operations. We must do everything we can to save lives."

Christian Aid partners are distributing water purification tablets, blankets and medicines to 100,000 people. Supplies are being sourced from within Burma, but this will become more difficult as time goes by.

"Supplies will run out unless more aid is allowed into the country," said Ray Hasan, Christian Aid's Burma expert. "Partners are telling us that there are outbreaks of disease already. There is no time to lose."

To make an urgent donation to its Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal, donate online at www.dec.org.uk or call: 0870 60 60 900.

Ends

Notes to editors

  • The DEC. The Disasters Emergency Committee agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
  • Public donations will be used for immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicines and shelter. But the scale of the devastation is so immense that a huge relief and reconstruction effort will be needed over the coming months.
  • For press information please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999014 (out of hours).
  • The DEC criteria to launch an appeal are:
    • The disaster must be on such a scale and of such urgency as to call for swift International humanitarian assistance.
    • The DEC agencies, or some of them, must be in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance at a scale to justify a national Appeal.
    • There must be sufficient public awareness of, and sympathy for, the humanitarian situation so as to give reasonable grounds for concluding that a public Appeal would be successful.