 |
|
A powerful cyclone that slammed into Myanmar's low-lying Irrawaddy delta triggered a massive wave
|
May 07, 2008, 21:15
Governments and relief agencies around the world, including South Africa, have promised more than $28 million worth of aid and technical support to Myanmar after a devastating cyclone killed nearly 22 500 people and left 41 000 missing. The destruction wreaked by Cyclone Nargis and its aftermath in the Irrawaddy Delta on Saturday has drawn a rare acceptance of outside help from the southeast Asian country's diplomatically isolated military rulers.
The following includes some of the aid offers to date from NGO - IGO contributions:
United Nations: A five-member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team assembled in Bangkok. UNICEF has sent assessment teams to three of the five disaster-hit areas.
Red Cross: About $189 000 released by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' emergency disaster fund. Relief workers are distributing drinking water, clothing, food, plastic tarpaulins and hygiene kits.
Myanmar Red Cross is distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to help prevent malaria and water purification tablets. The government said it would allocate $4.5 million for relief and resettlement work.
American Red Cross has pledged $100 000 in funds and supplies.
World Vision, Australia: The Christian relief group pledged $2.8 million for first month of relief operations in Myanmar. About 25 medical, health and hygiene specialists are to be sent into cyclone-ravaged areas, to boost efforts of 600 permanent staff in Myanmar.
Europe aid
Some of the announced State contributions include those from:
France: Around $320 000 in aid
Spain: Around $775 000 to the World Food Programme for Myanmar.
United Kingdom: Up to $10 million for emergency relief efforts pledged by Department of International Development, which is also sending an emergency field team.
Australia: Initial $2.8 million in emergency aid, with A$1 million of that to go to aid agencies to help provide shelter, water purification and food in Myanmar.
NewZealand: Immediate grant of $394 000 from government to be distributed through aid agencies United Nations.
Indonesia: $1 million, and send food, medicine and other humanitarian aid.
Greece: Greece vows to send $300 000 in financial assistance, and plane carrying aid.
China: $500 000 in cash; materials including tents, blankets and biscuits worth a further $500 000.
India: Two naval ships loaded with food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines sent to Yangon. Two transport aircraft laden with supplies to leave for Myanmar today
Japan: $267 570 worth of emergency aid in tents, power generators and other supplies.
Thailand: Transport plane loaded with food and medicine was sent to Yangon.
Singapore: $200 000 in humanitarian assistance; offers to send rescue and medical teams.
South Korea: $100,000 in aid and material, such as tents and medicine, in an initial package.
European Commission: Pledged $3 million for fast-track humanitarian aid.
United States: Committed $3 million through the US Agency for International Development, up from initial $250 000 immediate emergency aid. Treasury to expedite approvals for aid groups to provide money/services to the Myanmar government, under US sanctions since 2003.
Canada: Some $1.98 million to support organisations including the United Nations, International Red Cross and the World Food Programme.
Germany: Aaround $1.55 miillion to German aid organisations to provide shelter, drinking water, household utensils and mosquito nets. - Reuters
|
