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Myanmar: Response strengthened by staff, supplies |
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Media centre
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World Vision has been able to increase its humanitarian response on the ground in Myanmar by sending in additional aid workers and supplies into the country. This expansion of the organisation’s relief efforts is encouraging, but there is still more work to be done.
Five foreign staff with expertise in distribution, logistics, water and sanitation, and human resources arrived in Myanmar Tuesday morning.
In addition to technical expertise, the aid agency is sending in relief flights loaded with more supplies, including 2.3 million water purification tablets, 5,000 tarps, 5, 000 kitchen sets, 5, 000 hygiene kits, 2,000 mosquito nets, and 2 water purification systems that can purify up to 4,000 gallons of water per hour.
Two flights have already landed from Singapore, and one flight is scheduled from Frankfurt via Bangkok. An additional flight from Singapore is being scheduled for next week.
"We are seeing positive indications that the channels of relief into Myanmar are opening up," said Steve Goudswaard, Cyclone Nargis disaster relief and response manager for World Vision.
"We are hopeful that in the coming days, we will be able to begin expanding our humanitarian aid operation to reach even more survivors with food, water, and medical care. There is an urgent need on the ground and every day is critical."
While the additional staff workers and relief aid are welcome, there is still much more work to be done.
World Vision estimates it could help close to 500,000 people for the next six months if it is allowed to have greater access to the hardest-hit areas in the delta region and to bring in additional essential materials to distribute the aid as quickly and efficiently as possible. Overall access to the delta remains limited, and it is hampering operations to those who need it the most.
In Myanmar, World Vision’s 580 in-country staff has assisted 135,000 people with 188 metric tons of rice, 40,000 litres of clean water and medicines and survival items.
In addition, 37 Child-Friendly Spaces have opened up in Yangon to give child survivors a safe place to play and recover from any losses or traumatic experiences. World Vision has also sent teams of child protection specialists to establish up to 25 Child-Friendly Spaces in the Ayeyarwaddy Region.
Experts in emergency response are available for interviews.
Please contact Chris Webster at
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or +66 854 4340 25 or +44 7732 119 069
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