Canadian Aid Agencies on the Ground in Myanmar (Burma)

08/05/2008

Toronto, ON (May 8, 2008) - Since Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar (formerly Burma) last Saturday, international agencies Save the Children and CARE have had personnel on the ground evaluating the situation and beginning relief efforts. As partners in the Humanitarian Coalition CARE Canada and Save the Children Canada, along with Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Quebec, are delivering Canadian donations through their international networks to support their workers on the ground in Myanmar.

Assessment teams are reporting devastation across thousands of square kilometres, and an urgent need to supply clean water, food, and shelter materials for 2-3 million people left homeless. Save the Children has delivered immediate relief supplies to 50,000 children and their families to date and are working against time to provide supplies and rescue services in outlying areas. The agency is co-leading planning to address education infrastructure for children, as early estimates have found 3,193 primary schools destroyed affecting 500,000 children. CARE distributed water supplies yesterday to approximately 10,000 people taking shelter in Pagodas and schools in Myanmar's South Dagon and Thaketa townships. This included buying bottles of water, cleaning wells at the schools and pagodas, and providing water purification tablets and water storage units. Critical needs are plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits and food. Canadians can support the work of Save the Children and CARE by donating to THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION by calling 1-800-464-9154, logging onto http://www.humanitariancoalition.ca, or by mailing donations to THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION, PO Box 7023,  Ottawa, ON, K1L 5A0. - 30 - For background on the mission and current programs run by the four agencies, please visit http://www.humanitariancoalition.ca The four agencies have spokespeople (French and English-speaking) available for interviews on the emergency response. Media Contact: Sue Rooks, Save the Children Canada, Media Relations, The Humanitarian Coalition, , Cell: 647-273-7134