Red Cross Update: Myanmar

NEWS RELEASE

05 June

Red Cross Update: Myanmar

Four weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of people are still without clean drinking water.

The devastating sea surge that accompanied the cyclone caused ponds, wells and other water sources to be polluted over much of the Irrrawaddy delta.
An International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies water unit in Dedaye, in the south east region of the Irrawaddy delta, has been producing 70,000 litres of water a day for more than a week. Additional Red Cross water filtration equipment is in Myanmar and when operating can produce a further one million litres a day.

Reaching inhabitants of remote settlements has presented a massive logistical problem. The Federation is distributing water by truck and boat to ensure cyclone survivors on islands in the delta have access to clean drinking water.

Five international Federation water specialist staff have recently received permits to travel beyond Yangon’s city limits and have deployed to the Irrawaddy delta.

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