Mercy Malaysia ready for Burmese Cyclone Victims

PETALING JAYA: A four-member relief team will be sent by Mercy Malaysia to Yangon to evaluate the situation in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

In a press statement yesterday, the non-governmental organisation said the team would be led by executive committee member Dr Heng Aik Cheng.

The other team members are deputy head of Relief Operations Rossimah Mohamed, programme officer Hafidzi Ahmad Bunian and communications and fundraising head Shamini Darshni.

The team hopes to leave within the next few days.

Dr Heng said in the statement that the situation in Myanmar was very serious and foresaw that the number of victims would continue to rise.

“We hope to be there as soon as possible to provide great need for shelter, water sanitation and emergency medical treatment. These are the important things that can save lives,” he said.

At press time, Mercy Malaysia was coming up with a list of essential pharmaceutical drugs.

Once there, the team will assess the type of immediate aid required.

“For a start, the team will send water purification sachets, medicine, tarpaulins and plastic sheets for temporary shelter,” the statement added.

It said Mercy Malaysia would discuss the situation and course of action with government authorities, and its local and international non-governmental counterparts.

A posting on Mercy Malaysia’s website said it had allocated an initial RM150,000 for aid response in Myanmar.

It also issued a public appeal for funds via its website

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International Response

IRRAWADDY DIVISION (STATE) Overall — Nearly 15,000 dead, 3,000 missing. YANGON DIVISION (STATE) Overall — 59 dead In addition, Nyan Win (Foreign Minister of Myanmar) said 67 vessels and a few ferries along the rivers in the delta had sunk during the storm. A few harbors were destroyed. He said the government welcomed all international assistance, adding the the most urgently needed equipment was: Tents Platstic sheets, bricks and zinc roofing sheets Household nails Medicine Instant food Clothes and blankets Communication equipment Source – http://www.reliefweb.int (Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Grant McCool)

MERCY Malaysia is on standby to deploy a team to Myanmar to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. MERCY Malaysia has allocated an initial RM150,000 for aid response in Myanmar. MERCY Malaysia issued a public appeal via its website for funds. The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has allocated USD189,263 from the Emergency Fund to support the Myanmar Red Cross (MRCS) to conduct assessments of affected areas and distribution of relief items. The IFRC will distribute 2,000 extended family kits in Yangon today. A total of 2,000 hygiene kits and 2,000 shelter kits are ready to be flown from Kuala Lumpur and Dubai to Myanmar, due to arrive in two days. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has handed over four vehicles and drivers to MRCS to conduct needs assessment in provinces. World Vision will provide food and water in Yangon. The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA)’s Logistics Supply Unit are on standby to mobilise supplies from Brindisi, Italy including a shipment of water supply and sanitation items, as well as shelter items. Yangon airport is however still closed. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is prepared to lead the shelter cluster and provide medical supplies and other non-food items but will await more information from Yangon before confirming its role. The World Food Programme (WFP) has 400 metric tonnes of food prepared to delivery to Myanmar. The United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has water, school, nutrition and medical kits prepared. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is prepared to provide medical kits. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has prepared other relief materials.