The combined efforts of Metta Development Foundation, AZG, Save the Children Myanmar and MFH & Medical Relief Society Hospital.
AZG (Medicine Sans Frontieres – Holland), in fortunate position, because could divert national staff from the large existing programmes in Myanmar (over 1,000 staff) and could use the large medical reserves they had in country. In the early weeks have reached 200,000 people, have moved 200+ staff into the fields along with 9 international aid workers. In the first week 40 trucks were sent with goods to Delta, 10 boats are distributing goods and staff further south. Two cargo planes flew into Yangon airport with medical supply, mosquito nets, and water and sanitation equipment, including water treatment kits that produce 10,000 liters of drinking water per hour, 30,000 liters water bladders and other materials. 2 more planes followed. AZG has planned 8 million USD for the activities in the initial 3 months
Read more …
Dear Mrs. Nina,
I had missed your friend in Yangon. I apologized to her for my late contact due to difficulty of internet access. There are 20 houses needs for 20 families which will cost about $1000/ for all. It will cost about $ 50USD per small house to help set them.
The market prices have settled down somewhat. At first prices skyrocketed to 20 50% of normal. Here are the answers to the questions asked by visitors to your website:
Read more …
From: A Myanmar NGO observer
Three camps have been setup in a football stadium and on a golf course. Yesterday supplies were delivered to 670 families staying in the football stadium. And the distribution of supplies continues daily in the two other camps.
About 3200 families are living in 1160 tents. Some villagers have come back from villages to the camp as it is not feasible for them to live in villages. Water is also the main issue in villages. More and more families are coming and the more tents are built up each day.
The township is trying to reopen the schools with no fees to be charged to students, to accept any student even without official transfer certificate and no need to wear school uniforms. Thirty-six schools to be constructed by a private company with a donation of 110,000 roofing sheets.2000 roofing sheets have been received and also school tents are being provided. It appears less than 50% of schools in this rural area can be operational by July 1st.
Water is still the most urgent need in camps.
Over the last few days 1000 families have been sent back to their villages with donations of tarpaulin, bucket, jerry can and soap distributed through NGOs.
Hi John and Nina,
Good to hear from you again.
The situation here is mixed.
We were lucky to be able to move 200 staff and 9 international staff [10 days ago] to the delta. We can reach > 200,000 people but can’t cover the whole area.
Most organizations are extremely slow. So as a result there are still many people without help and that is a shame.
Read more …
Our trip is the first visit for them (villagers) to get donations from people. But Pwyal Tan villages had received the donations before because that village is located beside the river so it is easy to go there, not so for the rest of the 3 villages…The other three we visited are difficult to due to the narrow stream and when tide is low it is not possible to even go to those villages (Aung Hlaing village, Nyi Naung Gyi and Nyi Naung Lay village).
Current their situation is, next day of after storm (storm was on 2-5-08) most of villagers moved to Mawlamyaingkyun (MLMG town) to get food and stay. They stayed to the Monastery, hoped and waited for food and clothes to come. But I think Sayataw (presiding monk) and the people from Mawlamyaingkyun just couldn’t provide enough foods. So some people went to a teashop, got food and then didn’t pay the cost so run away.
Read more …
Dear Friends,
RE: Balloons over Bagan/ Malikha Lodge (BOB/ML) Cyclone Relief donations
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and provide a short update. Thanks to all for your generosity together with Friends of the Rainforest Myanmar (FORM) we have raised over USD $20,000 so far. From this amount Balloons over Bagan and Malikha Lodge has spent approx USD 2500 in local currency in purchasing supplies and arranging their safe passage down to the delta area. Our efforts and your donations have been divided as follows:
1) Two of our managers with specific skills have been provided on a full time basis for the next 3 months to Save the Children UK. Our financial controller from Putao is assisting with stock and inventory at the company warehouse in Yangon for international aid arriving by air. Our Operations Manager and crew chief from Bagan has received specialist training to lead and crew a specially imported relief supply boat to more remote areas. This boat will operate from one of the famous Pandaw boats which has been generously given over to the relief effort as a floating hospital come forward logistics hub.
Read more …
Thank you! Metta would like to thank all the support that is pouring in from our friends abroad (see bank information below for more donations). We are much encouraged by it, and it keeps us going even in these difficult times. Many of you are asking us for proposals, and we are happy to announce that our staff is in the last stages of finalizing the global budget and proposal!
Metta has been present in the area since the aftermath of the Tsunami in 2004, and this has enabled us to mount a quick response. In Yangon, the Program Director and Communication Officers are working day and night, with additional help from many skillful volunteers. We have been able to mobilize local organizations and people from the area who can act there. Here is a breakdown of the most current number of staff members and volunteers.
| No. |
Site |
Staff |
Volunteer |
Total |
Remark |
| 1 |
Pathein |
3 |
31 |
34 |
The volunteers are from the Po and Sagaw Karen Baptist Churches and local leaders. |
| 2 |
Laputta |
3 |
15 |
18 |
Metta has set up a new office here as of 14 May 2008. |
| 3 |
Myaungmya |
17 |
25 |
42 |
Metta has a coordination office here. |
| 4 |
Bogalay, Pyapon and Ma-u-bin |
1 |
17 |
18 |
The volunteers include 1 medical doctor, 3 nurses and 3 nurse aids. |
| 5 |
Pyin-hka-yai |
6 |
10 |
16 |
|
| 6 |
Kaing Thaung |
2 |
10 |
12 |
Staff and volunteers from mangrove project personnel. |
| 7 |
Yangon |
10 |
7 |
17 |
Main procurement site and data collection/ information hub |
| |
TOTAL |
42 |
115 |
157 |
|
Read more …
The cyclone hit Yangon hard; almost all trees were damaged or uprooted. Concrete poles carrying telephone and electricity lines broke, leading to large parts of the city being cut of from electricity and telephone services. Access to water was also difficult as there was no electricity for the pumps. But Yangon city is returning back to normal as the trees and debris was cleared off the streets. Electricity and telephone lines are being repaired and people are receiving water.
Things are still very difficult in the outskirts of Yangon and in the Irrawaddy Division. As you well know, foreign aid workers are not allowed into the Delta region. They are turned back at the first check-point. International news focuses on the aid workers not allowed into the country, but there are several international aid workers in Yangon. Most of them already had visas before Nargis. Others managed to receive visas from Embassies other than the one in Bangkok. They are working hard to organize aid shipments and are cooperating with local organizations to get the aid to the people.
Read more …
Dear John & Nina,
You should know a few things:
<0l>
What you hear and see on CNN & BBC is bull shit.
The Junta are doing a good job despite what you are hearing.
Relief is getting to the people and the Burmese people are doing an incredible job helping their own. They could teach the Americans a lot with respect to disaster relief.
It is incredible to see the support that walks in the door each day. It renews my faith in man kind.
Love,
