CHENGDU, CHINA- HISG is working with a strategic partner in China to get disaster relief to the communities affected by the earthquake in Sichuan on May 12.  Officials estimate that 40,075 people have been killed, and they expect that number to exceed 50,000 by the end of the recovery efforts.

HISG's partner in Chengdu was the first aid organization to register in the Sichuan province, and is closely connected to HISG's International Directors for Asia, Tom and Charlene Jennings.  This organization has initiated community development projects for the Chinese in Sichuan and also among the Tibetan minorities that live in the rural mountain villages.  For this relief effort, our partners have the full support of the Chinese Ministry of Health to import and transport items to previously restricted areas.  They have also been offered a warehouse where they can stage shipments coming into the area, and are partnering with the Red Cross, the Chinese army and several other NGOs to deliver the aid to people in Sichuan. 

HISG's strategic partners in this response have outlined a three-part response to the earthquake.  First, they are trying to get food and water to the isolated villages that have been cut off from other sources.  Teams are hiking up mountain roads that are currently impassable for vehicles to deliver aid to the villages.  Secondly, they will help these isolated villages secure access to supplies of food and clean water and begin to provide shelters.  Finally, HISG and our partnering organization will assist in the long-term recovery of treating injuries, caring for families who have lost loved ones in the earthquake, and rebuilding homes and businesses.

Through strong connections to local organizations, HISG is able to connect large amounts of aid to the communities that need it the most, with minimal (less than 10%) administration costs.  Click here to donate to HISG if you would like to help with this disaster relief project.

MYANMAR- HISG has been actively supporting relief efforts for the people of Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis devastated the southern part of the country on May 3. 
Here is a brief summary of how HISG has been involved with the response:

• HISG has raised over $18,000 (USD) to help the relief project.
• HISG has prepared six forty-foot containers to ship to Myanmar.  These shipments contain thousands of meals, bottled water, water purifying systems, clothing and much more.
• HISG is communicating with several groups inside the country to ensure that the aid gets delivered to the areas where there is the greatest need.  HISG has personnel in Thailand meeting with leaders from Myanmar to determine what are the most effective ways to provide assistance.
  
• HISG has been contacted by an organization that hopes to provide 100,000 water filters to Myanmar as a long-term solution for the people there.
• HISG has implemented an online database that can help all types of aid organizations from around the world connect to the Myanmar relief.  The system is online here.
  

There are still many needs in Myanmar, and different news outlets have detailed the challenges of getting relief to the hardest-hit communities.  HISG is committed to connecting as many resources as we possibly can to help the people affected by this disaster.  Thank you for supporting HISG in this project.

Photo courtesy of AFP/Getty Images.

For the past three years, HISG has used a regional office in Singapore to serve the people of Southeast Asia, a region that has been called a "supermarket of disasters."  One of the functions of the Singapore office is to provide a base of operations during events like the response to Cyclone Nargis.

HISG Presence:  The need for an office in Singapore was apparent during the massive cleanup operation after the 2004 Asian Tsunami.  HISG has since used the office and personnel in Singapore to coordinate relief and development operations in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Korea.

Challenges:  The phrase "supermarket of disasters" refers to the many different kinds of catastrophes that affect Southeast Asian nations.  For example, HISG has supported relief efforts for mud flows, floods, earthquakes, a tsunami, and a cyclone in Southeast Asia in recent years.  The region is also home to a number of active volcanoes.  There is a challenge in shipping aid to this area as well, since many of countries are island nations.

Needs:  Hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar are without shelter, food, and clean water as a result of the cyclone.  Many people in China are in the same situation after the earthquake.  HISG is working with people from nearby countries to find the best way to get the most aid into both of the disaster zones.  HISG is also working with humanitarian organizations around the world in order to meet as many needs as possible.  If you would like to partner with HISG in this process, please contact us.

Photo courtesy of Irrawaddy.org.