Cyclone Nargis - Myanmar
(Burma)
During the past few days, I have been receiving many reports of the situation, as it exists, within the former Burma.Our worst fears are being realised, and the death toll is rising significantly, as is the casualty rate, and the numbers of homeless.Regrettably the authorities are significantly reticent of allowing aid workers, and foreign nationals, to assist with the relief work, and distribution of aid.The major part of the aid being distributed, was already stored 'in country', and the aid workers assisting were already working for their respective NGO's, in that country.The military government is insisting that distribution of aid has to be carried out by the military, and this is slowing up what aid is getting through very significantly!Flights given permission to land at Rangoon have to be unloaded by the armed forces personnel, and what little aid is getting into the country, is really only a drop in the ocean, as far as real aid is concerned.Meanwhile some 1.2 to 1.9 million people are struggling to survive hunger, and thirst, due to lack of food and water!Those who are barely surviving without shelter are becoming more and more vulnerable to disease, from contaminated, and polluted water supplies, and the lack of sanitation.A map of the disaster area, and two of the latest situation reports on the disaster can be viewed in the attachments with this message.
However Rotary, and particularly Rotary GB&I, can be proud of the fact that ShelterBox (Rotary Club of Helston & Lizard) have made a breakthrough, by knocking very hard on the Myanmar Embassy door in London, and securing visas for four members of a ShelterBox Response Team.In addition permission has been granted for supplies of ShelterBoxes to be landed in Burma, and following permission being granted, 224 Boxes left the ShelterBox emergency stock in Dubai, along with a further 224 from Australia.200 Boxes (400 Tents) in addition, were despatched form the UK base at Helston.Due to the seriousness of the situation, ShelterBox have used this window of opportunity, to arrange a charter flight with 1000 additional boxes, to leave Birmingham later today.These boxes in 5 x 40' containers left Helston on Monday 12 May.This is a total commitment to date of 1648 Boxes (1848 x 10 person tents).424 Boxes (624Tents) are already in Yangon, and the further 224 boxes from Australia are expected imminently.The 1000 Box charter flight leaving later today will be in Yangon and offloading boxes on Thursday evening.The ShelterBox Response Team are not allowed to deliver aid themselves, in common with the government's policy, and the team are training the government personnel, who are taking these boxes to the devastated Irrawaddy delta area.ShelterBox have been looking at assisting our other Box Projects, but due to the difficult logistics and the pressure on aircraft space, this has been impossible thus far.However they hope to assist in due course, and if possible.
Our other Box projects have been extremely busy communicating with each
other, and one or two positive possibilities, for transporting Aquaboxes,
Water-Survival Boxes and Life-Boxes are currently being followed up.All of these Box Projects are very
optimistic of finding a way forward, and are in an immediate state of readiness
with, between them, several hundred boxes available for despatch, given a way
forward.We are optimistic
that these possibilities will come to pass.However in the case of all of the
Box Projects, this unprecedented effort leaves the cupboards almost bare.New stocks have to be put in
store, and this takes funding.I look to all clubs to support this magnificent effort by all of these
Box projects, in the face of such unprecedented difficulties, where we have no
Rotary contacts within Burma, and apparently little hope of the Government
relaxing their draconian regulations.Aquabox in particular, are
asking that all clubs who currently have Aquaboxes in their possession for
filling, should return these as a priority.Their estimate is that there are
some 2000 out within Rotary GB&I for filling and return.Please fill and return these boxes
now so that they can be shipped out to those in need, whether this may be Burma
or China.
PLEASE SEND YOUR DONATIONS TO THE BOX PROJECT OF YOUR CHOICE - THEY NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT NOW, TO ENABLE THEM TO REPLENISH THEIR WAREHOUSES, WITH ADEQUATE EMERGENCY STOCKS - PARTICULARLY SO SINCE WE HAVE NOW HAD FIRST REPORTS OF THE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA ONLY YESTERDAY, WHERE HELP AGAIN WILL BE NEEDED, IN ADDITION TO THIS VAST HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN BURMA