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| Please Help the Myanmar Relief Effort |
Affected Population: The cyclone hit the Southeast Asian nation early on Saturday, May 3.
Parents have told stories of having children ripped from their arms by the ferocious winds and
swirling tides. More than 77,000 people have been confirmed dead and another 55,000 people are
missing. Many observers expect the death toll to continue to rise because some of the hardest hit
areas along the Irrawaddy River are still inaccessible.
HISG Relief Effort: HISG sent staff into Myanmar and helped build a coalition of local
organizations working together for cyclone relief. The coalition has been recognized by the junta
government of Myanmar and is allowed to receive and distribute international aid. This partnership
is one of the few organizations to be given such permission.
Secondly, HISG coordinated medical teams that set up clinics in different parts of the city of
Yangon, treating over 600 patients in a matter of days. The medical teams also rebuilt orphanages
around the city that had been damaged by the storm.
Third, HISG staff trained Myanmar nationals from Southeast Asia in large-scale disaster relief.
This training is especially critical because the government of Myanmar has been extremely reluctant
to allow foreign aid workers into the country. The Myanmar nationals will have easier access to
the disaster zone.
Fourth, HISG shipped hundreds of water purification systems for distribution in areas where no
clean water was available. The water filters are easy to install and simple to maintain, and each
one can provide enough water for an entire family for 12 months. In addition to the water filters,
HISG provided several hand pumps that can be installed in a few hours and will reach down to
underground sources of drinkable water. HISG delivered 200 bags of rice to the villages along with
the water pumps. The rice was used for food, as well as seed for farmers whose crops were ruined
by the massive swells of salt water during the cyclone.
Finally, HISG purchased property to establish an orphan and foster care facility in the Irrawaddy
Delta region for the children who lost their homes and families in the storm. HISG also purchased
goats to be raised on the property. The sales of milk and offspring from the goats will make the
project self-sustaining and fund the orphan care program. Four children (right) are already
living at the facility.
The scope of these projects ranges from immediate disaster relief to caring for the most vulnerable
children in the community, but one common thread is that most of them empower local people to reach
out to their communities. The orphan care program, the relief coalition, and the disaster response
training are all examples of how HISG is able to connect to local networks and contacts to maximize
the impact of each project.
Click here to find how how you can get involved.
Urgent Needs: Medicine and medical supplies are much needed. In 2000 the World Health
Organization ranked Myanmar's overall health care system as the second worst in the world. Food
is another need, as prices have skyrocketed, with some staples tripling in cost. Many communities
desperately need clean water and water purifiers because thousands of displaced people are living
in close quarters where infectious diseases are easily spread. There is also an urgent need for
tents and other temporary shelters for all the families whose homes have been destroyed. Aside
from these physical needs there are other challenges for aid organizations. Communication is a
problem because most powerlines and phone lines have been knocked down. Transportation is also
difficult because of fuel shortages, blocked roads, and many of the smaller boats that would be
used to reach flooded areas were destroyed by the cyclone.
HISG Presence: HISG has strong relationships with local aid organizations in Southeast
Asia. We were heavily involved in
relief projects after the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Our warehouse sent
several containers to affected areas of Indonesia and outfitted a hospital near ground zero. HISG
has also helped start small businesses to assist in the community development of the affected
areas. In addition, HISG staff has taught disaster response in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and
Thailand, which neighbors Myanmar.
Please consider a
donation to HISG disaster relief efforts in Myanmar. Thank you for your care and
concern for the people affected by this catastrophe.
Reference Links for More Information:
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| Water pumps that HISG is installing |
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| Livestock for the children's shelter
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| The first children adopted into the orphan care program |
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People waiting in line for water
Photo courtesy of AFP/Hla Hla Htay |
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Destruction in the Yangon Harbor
Photo by Khin Maung Win AFP/Getty Images |
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More of the devastation
Photo courtesy of BBC News Online |
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