Malaysian Red Crescent

KUALA LUMPUR– 7th May 2008, the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) appeals to the Malaysian public in donating cash in response to a request for support from Myanmar Red Cross Society to assist the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Based on need assessment done by the Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) Malaysian Red Crescent will provide relief and health items through Myanmar Red Cross Society.  These items are expected to reach the victims that are affected by the cyclone. This list of items as follows:

COSTING FOR 1000 FAMILIES ( 5000 PERSONS )

                                                                                   CHF                 RM

1. Kitchen Kit        -  CHF 30.00x1000/family            30,000        93,000.00             

2. Hygiene Kit        -  CHF 30.00x1000/family            30,000        93,000.00

3. Blankets            -  CHF 5.00 x 5000/pax                 25,000        77,500.00

4. Mosquito Nets        -  CHF 6.00 x 5000/pax           30,000        93,000.00

5. Sleeping Mats        -  CHF 3.00 x 5000/pax            15,000        46,500.00

6. Pediatrics Dispensary    -  CHF 250 x 20 boxes       5,000        15,500.00

7. Dispensary (Adult)    -  CHF 350 x 20 boxes            7,000        21,700.00

8. Freight Cost-Air/Sea    -  CHF 20,000                    20,000        62,000.00

TOTAL                                                                    162,000    502,200.00

This appeal is also to provide support in human resource to help Myanmar Red Cross Society. Through the International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC),  we are going to deploy 10 of our personnel consist of Medical, Relief and Logistic skills to support the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

The Malaysian Red Crescent has transmitted USD10, 000.00 to the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

Brief summary of situation

Communities across the mid-south of Myanmar are reeling after a massive storm – tropical cyclone Nargis – devastated vast populated areas. The scale of destruction and loss is massive: casualty figures are still rising with reported numbers at the time of this appeal launch: 44,000 dead, 60,000 missing and millions affected.

The category four cyclones struck west-southwest of Yangon city, Friday 2 May 2008. Winds exceeded 190 kph and the storm ripped through the delta city (estimated population 6 million) for more than ten hours until Saturday noon on 3 May. Homes were flattened, more sturdy structures damaged, trees uprooted and power lines downed. State officials, along with Myanmar Red Cross Society, were first on the scene to help some of the shattered communities in terms of basics, such as water and temporary shelter. Debris blocked many roads and telecommunications were badly hit. While the disaster is clearly massive, its true extent and detail are still emerging in a fragmented snapshot of assessments, reports and anecdotes. This is one of the significant challenges of the operation in this early phase.

A state of emergency has been declared in five regions: the city of Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. There are major concerns over access to safe drinking water, purification tablets, shelter, cooking sets, basic health materials, diesel, mosquito nets, and adequate food supplies.

Reports indicate significant devastation in villages along the south coast of the delta region. The seriously affected areas in the Ayeyarwady division include: Maubin, Nga Pu Baw, Haing Gyi and Labutta. In the Yangon division, affected areas include Dahyan, Kawmu, Yankin, Shwedidah, Hlai Ngtaya and Daw Bin.

Tropical cyclone Nargis made landfall as a category 4 cyclone west-southwest of Yangon, Myanmar at approximately 16:00 local time (12:00 UCT) on the 2nd of May 2008. As Nargis moved inland, reduced strength and passed over the Capital city Yangon with winds exceeding 190km/hr. Initial reports indicate wide spread wind damage to housing, vegetation and small scale infrastructure. Power and telephone communication systems are affected and there are rising concerns with regard to safe water supply.

Wide spread damage across Yangon and the general path of the cyclone. Many homes have lost their roofs and the smaller less solidly constructed homes have been destroyed. The ruling military junta declared a state of emergency in five regions: the city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon.

State media have said that the death toll from Burma's devastating cyclone has now risen to more than 22,000.  Some 41,000 are also missing, three days after Cyclone Nargis hit the country and caused a huge tidal surge to sweep inland, state radio said.  At present reports indicate the following areas are seriously affected in the Irrawaddy Division, Maubin, Nga Pu Baw, Haing Gyi, Labutta Yangon Division, Dahyan, Kawmu, Yankin, Shwedidah, Hlai Ngtaya, Daw Bin.

Sister National Societies within SE Asia including Malaysian Red Crescent and Thai Red Cross as well as partner National Societies present in the region (including American and German Red Cross, in addition to Danish and French Red Cross) are indicating various aspects of support. Several members across the wider Federation network have also been proactive in seeking information and avenues of appropriate support to MRCS and its work with affected communities.

The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Appeals

The MRC seek all form of assistance, especially monetary to enable the MRC in providing humanitarian aid to alleviate the sufferings of victims of the cyclone. Cheques should be made payable to the MRCS International Relief Fund and marked “Myanmar Cyclone Nargis” on the back of the cheque or bank-in into MRCS Account Maybank No – 5144 - 2210 – 2657. Cash donations made to the MRCS are tax-exempted.

For further details, do please contact:

Suhana Mohamed Salleh
Manager Communications
Malaysian Red Crescent
32, Jalan Nipah off Jalan Ampang
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel    :    603 – 4257 8122 ext 106/118
Mobile:    012 – 321 2937
Fax    :    603 – 4257 9867 / 4253 3191
e-mail:    suhana@redcrescent.org.my