EcoWorldly

New estimates place the death toll in Burma–also called Myanmar by the leaders of its strict military regime–at 100,000. In the initial wake of the cyclone, the brutal Burmese government made attempts to interfere with international aid agencies. In recent days, as reported on CNN, the Burmese government has changed its policies, saying “We are ready to speed up and strengthen our relief effort. We will accept aid from any corner.”

Here, you will find six organizations accepting charitable donations for relief work in Burma as well as five organizations possibly accepting volunteers for relief efforts.

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Six Ways to Donate Money for Burma Cyclone Victims

1. Donate through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

“Supplies of aid to the multitudes affected by the devastating cyclone in Myanmar last week are gradually scaling up, according to Red Cross Red Crescent workers in the southeast Asian nation. In recent days over 220,000 people have received some form of aid from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), other organizations and the general public. Over 80,000 of them have been served by Myanmar Red Cross.”

2. Donate through the World Food Programme

“The World Food Programme has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow, while discussions continue with the Government of Myanmar on the distribution of the food that was flown in today, and not released to WFP. Today, two WFP flights arrived with high-energy biscuits, sufficient to feed 95,000 hungry people in Myanmar.

“Yesterday, WFP airlifted enough high energy biscuits for 21,000 people, most of which has been delivered over the last 24 hours to the hardest-hit areas.”

3. Donate through the International Burmese Monks Organization via Avaaz.org.

“Avaaz is raising funds for the International Burmese Monks Organization and related groups, which will transmit funds directly to monasteries in affected areas.

“In many of the worst-hit areas, the monasteries are the only source of shelter and food for Burma’s poorest people. They have been on the front lines of the aid effort since the storm struck.”

4. Donate through UNICEF

“UNICEF is very concerned about the impact of bad water on the health of children living in extremely precarious situations. Lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation, inadequate shelter and poor nutrition pose additional risks to children who are already vulnerable to disease and hunger.”

5. Donate through the UN Refugee Agency

“UNHCR responded immediately by distributing US$50,000 worth of basic supplies, including plastic sheeting and tents, to help victims of the devastating cyclone. Many families lost their homes when Cyclone Nargis hit the country on Saturday.

“UNHCR is participating in the joint UN emergency response effort in Myanmar, with particular attention on the shelter sector, and is continuing its emergency relief.”

6. Donate through CARE

“CARE will be working with the UN and Myanmar government authorities to assess the destruction from Tropical Cyclone Nargis, and is prepared to respond with immediate aid. Myanmar’s state-owned television and radio reported that 4,000 people died in the storm which struck Myanmar on Saturday. Nearly 3,000 more people have been listed as missing, and the final death toll could go much higher. The UN says that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. The storm hit Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, which has a population of five million people. The storm also tore through five districts, including some of Myanmar’s most important rice growing areas, which have a population of 24 million. With communications, including telephone lines and mobile phone networks, seriously damaged, it may take days before the full extent of the damage is known.”

Five Ways to Volunteer Your Time in Burma Helping Cyclone Victims

Remember, it was only this year that the Burmese government locked down on its citizens, killing demonstrators and cutting off internet access and all media sources that questioned the government. Therefore, volunteering opportunities in Burma may be limited. Contact the organizations below to learn more.

1. Globalteer. Volunteer Application Form

“This is an urgent request for all those interested in assisting in this humanitarian crisis to contact us. You would need to be available immediately and make your own way to Bangkok to join a larger group of NGO workers on a flight into Burma. We are currently waiting for further details of when the disaster relief response team would be leaving from Bangkok as primary disaster relief teams are working to get essential services up and running before further teams enter the country. Volunteers are required to complete an application form.”

2. Red Cross International may be accepting international volunteers to travel to Burma. Contact your local Red Cross chapter to learn if there is a volunteer exchange program with Burma.

3. Medecins Sans Frontiers. Volunteer application page.

“Immediately after the cyclone hit several regions in Myanmar, MSF teams in the country began assessing and responding to the needs of the population in Yangoon and the neighbouring areas. Our first assessments show that, in the Daala and Twantey zones, south of Yangoon, home to 300,000 inhabitants, 80 percent of buildings have been destroyed and some parts of the region are still flooded under one meter of water.

“MSF teams, who are able to circulate freely, have distributed food and plastic sheeting, and have begun treating water in Yangoon.”

4. Burma Volunteer Program. Visit the volunteer application page, or email maesotel@loxinfo.co.th.

This is was not set up as a disaster relief program, but may accommodate volunteers for cyclone relief work.

“The Burma Volunteer Program in Thailand (BVP) was set up in January 2000 to bridge the gap between pro-democracy Burmese organizations looking for assistance and volunteers wishing to donate time and skills toward the creation of a democratic and just Burma.

“BVP co-ordinates volunteers and provides educational opportunities to students from Burma who live in Thailand. The students are from a broad range of ethnic nationalities including Burman, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Palaung, Kachin, Arakan and Pa-O. Typically, the groups that volunteers work with include political groups, ethnic groups, womens’ groups, youth groups, news groups and campaigning groups. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of three months in order to ensure continuity within the organizations.”

5. OPENaid International. Visit the volunteer application form via Volunteerabroad.org or email office@openaid.org.au.

This is was not set up as a disaster relief program, but may accommodate volunteers for cyclone relief work. In addition, OPENaid seems best positioned to accept donations of money.

” ‘OPENaid is moving to respond and taking steps to bring necessary help, particularly focusing efforts to help our staff, volunteers and program participants,’ reported Justin Whitecross, OPENaid Executive, earlier today (Thursday). ‘For us, with our network and workers in-country, responding properly is so important.’

“But Mr Whitecross urged donors to understand that OPENaid is a very small organisation and would direct donors to appropriate agencies to maximise assistance. ‘Donors already involved with OPENaid can help us bring immediate assistance in this crisis to women and children involved in our programs — and every help is clearly important,’ said Mr Whitecross.

“My Whitecross said, ‘We have sent staff to partners on the border and assessments are being made to organise our aid and response. It’s an evolving situation and we’re moving carefully.’ “

Related links:

Burma: How You Can Help | BBC

Impact Your World: Myanmar ambassador: ‘We will accept aid from any corner’ | CNN

British Red Cross Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal

Photo credit: NASA.

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