NEWS RELEASE

15 May

Red Cross Update: Myanmar

Predictions of heavy rain for areas of the cyclone hit Irrawaddy delta could further exacerbate the situation for thousands of Cyclone Nargis survivors, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

According to the International Research Institute (IRI) for Climate and Society, based at Columbia University in New York, 12 centimetres of rain are forecast to fall on the area worst affected by the 2 May tropical cyclone over the next six days.

International Federation representatives fear the prospect of more sever flooding in the affected regions as the predicted heavy rain falls on already saturated soil.

Peter Rees, head of the International Federation operations support in Geneva warned that the heavy rain could force survivors to leave areas they thought were safe in search of new dry land, which would complicate the relief efforts already underway.

The predicted heavy rain could also have serious consequences for the health of the affected communities. Any new flooding could see more unsafe water being forced out of sanitation facilities increasing the risk of water borne diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery.

Red Cross continues to get aid into Myanmar and out into the delta. Yesterday, family kits for 10,000 people left Yangon, with each kit including tarpaulins, cooking equipment, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and soap. These will be distributed by Myanmar Red Cross volunteers who have been working around the clock to reach and assist affected people.

ENDS

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