Red Cross Provides Assistance to Flood-Stricken Myanmar

19 August 2015

Red Cross Provides Assistance to Flood-Stricken Myanmar

An emergency appeal to support flood-hit communities in Myanmar has been launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Around 1.5 million people have been affected by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmar that have caused flooding and landslides. The IFRC emergency appeal will be used to provide assistance to 100,000 people.

Communities throughout Myanmar are feeling the ongoing impact of the floods says New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General Tony Paine.

“Many people are still in evacuation centres needing emergency relief and others have returned home find their houses and livelihoods destroyed, as well as their water sources contaminated.

“We are also thinking of the large Burmese community here in New Zealand who have family and friends affected by the flooding,” Mr Paine says.

Since the floods began in mid-July, Myanmar Red Cross staff and volunteers have been carrying out evacuations as well as providing first aid, relief supplies and clean water from its emergency stocks. So far, relief has reached more than 50,000 people and 100,000 evacuees have been supported.

Further relief will include distributions of cash to help those affected get back on their feet, while longer term support will involve helping to rebuild home and community infrastructure such as wells, water sources and latrines.

An estimated 770,000 acres of agricultural land has been damaged by the floods, as well as household food stocks, leaving 435,000 people in need of food assistance. Red Cross is supporting food distributions and re-establishing livelihoods will be a priority in the recovery stage.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has given $250,000 to IFRC to help provide essential relief items to those affected by the flooding.

New Zealanders wishing to donate to the IFRC appeal can do so at www.ifrc.org

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