Myanmar Cyclone: Time to CARE
By admin
Filed Under Modern Philanthropy, The Big Picture |
We often go about our daily activities - consumed with our careers, family obligations, and entertainments of every kind. It’s easy to exist in the bubble of our own lives. But there are moments that by their sheer awfulness, jolt us out of our insulated reality. Catastrophic events like Katrina, 9/11, the 2004 Tsunami have forced us to take pause and become aware of our greater global community.
According to the UN, the Myanmar Cyclone has killed as many as 100,000 people, and left hundreds of thousands of people without food and water. From so many miles away, we can not fix it all, but we can definitely help. We can CARE.
CARE is a non-profit organization that has been working in Myanmar for over fourteen years, on a range of programs focusing on food security, health, AIDS prevention, clean water and sanitation. CARE has 500 local staff members in Myanmar working on projects in 120 villages and towns. Though the CARE office in Yangon was severely damaged, their vast network of staff is already bringing immediate assistance to those families most affected by the cyclone. Whether it’s $5 or $500, we hope by pulling together we can offer some relief to the Myanmar community by donating to CARE’s Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund today.
Here’s their most recent report…
CARE Myanmar Report 05/06/08:
The government of Myanmar announced that it would welcome help from the international community, and CARE immediately responded by launching an assessment and preparing to provide humanitarian relief. To support these efforts, CARE created the Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund. Contributions to the fund will help support the immediate emergency phase of CARE’s response as well as longer-term efforts to rebuild lives and livelihoods in cyclone-affected communities in the weeks and months to come.
CARE will focus relief efforts on the provision of water, food, shelter materials and sanitation in areas severely affected by Cyclone Nargis. Their response will initially target affected communities in Yangon and Moulemain townships where CARE currently has a presence. At the same time, CARE tells us they will explore the potential for expanding into other affected areas subject to coordination with the government and UN. Earlier yesterday, CARE started field assessments in South Dago and Thaketa, two townships in Yangon. Preliminary results indicate that the provision of shelter and safe drinking water are the highest priorities for affected families, followed by food and sanitation. CARE teams found thousands of people who have lost their homes, and who are taking shelter in schools and pagodas.
There are significant concerns about the spread of disease in Yangon and outlying areas as the water system is not functional. Without immediate action, diarrhea and dysentery could spread rapidly and become deadly, especially for small children, the elderly and those who are already ill. In addition, many families have lost their homes and will require temporary shelter materials, such as plastic sheeting, to provide a dry space to live. Finally, people who have been displaced or who have lost their belongings will require food assistance in the short-term to meet their daily needs.
CARE’s initial relief efforts will provide plastic sheeting, food, jerry cans, water purification and oral rehydration solution to those affected in South Dago and Thaketa. Additional elements of CARE’s response, as well as the total funding requirements, will be determined once the assessments are complete.
When disaster strikes, CARE needs immediate, flexible funding to allow us to mount a comprehensive and timely response. Your donation to CARE’s Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund will allow CARE to ensure that vulnerable families - many who have lost their homes and all their assets - are able to access clean drinking water and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease, secure temporary shelter while they rebuild their homes, and have enough food to eat. Thank you for considering a donation to support these important efforts.
Take action!
- Donate to CARE today
- Share this post with your community
Posted on May 8, 2008 |
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