Press Release
Yangon, 13 May 2008 – Yoma Strategic Holdings Limited, SPA Myanmar and First Myanmar Investment Company (private non government related businesses) have taken over responsibility for Cyclone Nargis relief support for two of the hardest hit areas in the Irrawaddy Delta, Ngaputaw Township and Hainggyi Island on the tip of the Delta on Pagoda Point at Cape Negrais.

Initially, as a group, we envisage supporting 20,000 people in these two Delta towns – Cyclone Nargis passed directly through Hainggyi Island, and past just below Ngapudaw. Our initial assessment team returned to Yangon last night from the Delta to report to us on the situation on the ground, and we have established our Relief Command Centre in Yangon at the Grand Meeyahta Suite Apartment 309 to coordinate the main relief effort.

Our office in Pathein, capital of the Irrawaddy Division, is our local base, and we are arranging to move to Pathein the Pandaw II ship, which has been donated to our effort for use as a hospital ship. Now in Yangon Port for refit, we plan to have the Pandaw II (tourist passenger vessel) brought downriver to Pathein by tug. Fully crewed by the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, a medical team from the Pun Hlaing International Hospital (private hospital) is being put together to operate from the Pandaw II once it is moored quayside in Pathein.

A team from SPA Motors is already coordinating support using their network of dealers in the Irrawaddy Division Delta Region, and the director returned last night after visiting relief centers in Pathein. Five centers, each sheltering 1,500 displaced persons have been set up in High Schools. The immediate requirement is the relief of severe dehydration for these people, most of whom reached the Pathein centers alone and psychologically disoriented after losing their families. Last night our SPA Motors staff distributed to the centers Ks. 6.5 million of instant noodles, and today has procured stocks of dehydration pills in Yangon to send down.

Issued on behalf of Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd by:
Cogent Communications Pte Ltd
Tel: (65) 6323 1060 Fax: (65) 6222 1210
Ms Celine Ooi, DID: (65) 6323 1193
Mr Roger Poh, DID: (65) 6323 3178