Helping the People of Myanmar

It has been nearly two weeks since deadly Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar (view images of the aftermath here) leaving in its wake nearly 2000 square miles under water and an estimated two million people without access to fresh food, safe water, medicines, and shelter. Unless immediate assistance reaches them quickly, many will face starvation and teh spread of epidemic diseases.

Since the cyclone hit, Pact has been intensely involved in early response efforts in the Irrawaddy Delta, where we have a microfinance operation and over 400 staff (of which, sadly, five were lost).  While we do not do relief work, our local network of staff and offices has made us attractive to relief organizations that do not have a presence and/or a means to locally distribute relief supplies. Unfortunately, until more aid is let into the country, there is little to distribute other than what we are able to raise ourselves.

Thanks to the many donations we have received we have been able to reopen 10 of our local offices in the hardest hit areas of the Delta and have begun distributing cash and conducting needs assessments in 200 villages. In one township, Pyapon, we have obtained permission from local authorities to distribute rice and to open a first aid clinic in a displaced persons camp where 18,000 people are now living.

Pact has stepped forward with our own resources and is donating the time of two of our medical doctors. We are are trying to raise money to support four floating health clinics, in addition to continuing cash and food disbursements.

Your donation can provide immediate relief. With $130 we can provide a household with a food package, access to clean water, temporary shelter, and seeds and tools to restart their agricultural activities. As quickly as possible, we also hope to be able to reinstitute microlending so that individuals can again participate in the local economy.

Burmese people are gentle, loving, resilient and hardworking . With just a little bit of assistance, they can start to put their lives back together and to take charge in the reconstruction of their country. Your sympathy and understanding of their situation, in and of itself, is a source of strength to them that will not be forgotten.

We will keep you posted on these efforts, so please come back and visit us again. This is a time for all of us to let the people of Myanmar know that we care about what has happened to them and their families and communities.

For more information, please contact:
Traer Sunley, VP Communications
Washington, DC
202.466.5666
tsunley@pacthq.org