And that it truly is, serving the Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus and Christians of Yangon city. We were greeted at the entrance by hordes of patients lined up to collect their prescribed medications. The out patient department was calling patient number 346! And it was only 10:30am. Our group arrived laden with bags of medical supplies, donations in kind from Canada, making for difficult passage in an already very crowd space.

The donations we bring include sutures, anti-biotics, ambu-bags, multi-vitamins, skin oitments, surgical blades, steri-strips,

The neediest things are;
FOOD: Rice, Water, Salt and Oil.
Even for meat/protein, they can make fishing as their custom!
Our estimation for about 400 families/I hope at least 800 peoples will be able to eat the rice for 5 days!

1. Rice -50 bags -~Ks.950000.00 ($864CAN)
   50 bags of rice @24cups = 1200cups
   So 3 cups per family to 400 families can be delivered
2. Water -400 bottles -~Ks.120000.00 ($109CAN)
3. Oil 1/4 viss bottles -1200Ks@400 = Ks.480000.00 ($436CAN)
4. Salt packs – local Iodinized salt packs
   ~450@400 = Ks.180000.00 ($163CAN)
5. Candles (8pcs-packs@400@Ks.450) =Ks.180000.00 ($163CAN)
6. Canned Fish-370Ks.@800 = Ks.296000.00 ($269CAN)

We will buy the rice and water at in the nearest town to our destination and others necessities in Yangon.
Estimated travel expenses ~Ks.350000 ($318can)

We estimated the minimum TOTAL to be = Ks. 2,376,000 ($2160CAN)

We should add more, we can add some clothes to donate…
Best Regards

Email sent by paid volunteer staff of a small Myanmar business.

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.

2) This morning two of our logistics staff departed Yangon by boat on a multi day trip to Moulmeingyun. Our relatives on the ground will personally take delivery of more than USD $1000 worth of water, rice, canned foods, medicines, soaps and clothing for up to 200 people. Moulmeingyun itself was not too badly affected, but the surrounding villages were hit very hard, and together with some of the village leaders we hope to arrange for them to collect our relief supplies on a weekly basis to take back to their villages.

3) A donation of USD $900 purchased bags of rice and tarpaulin used for shelter with the Bogalay Peoples Committee. The photos here were taken by our two Yangon based logistics staff to document donated relief supplies in Bogalay and Moulmeingyun.

Early next week we will be in a better position to evaluate our efforts once our boys return from the field. If successful, we can commence weekly deliveries using our own in house staff and increase the amount of aid needed in these areas, as well as ascertain more accurately what is required over the next few months. To this effect we will put out a further update with photos by the end of next week.

Finally it is very heart warming to see that so many of you, who have visited Myanmar over the past few years maintain such a strong connection to the country and its people, and as leading members of the tourism industry, we believe this highlights the positive role tourism can and should play in Myanmar.

Yours sincerely,

Brett and Omar Melzer

As Myanmar continues a three day mourning period, CW Asia Fund, made up of a small group of local Vancouver and Calgary volunteers, continues its efforts to raise $1 million (CDN) for emergency aid in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis. In ten days, CW Asia Fund raised over $585,000 (CDN) and hopes to reach its goal by the end of next week, with the expectation that the Canadian Government will step in to match funds raised.

It is estimated that 1.5 million people have been affected by Cyclone Nargis and up to 300,000 killed, including 120,000 children. The estimated death toll now exceeds that of the 2004 Tsunami. The flooding has stopped in Myanmar, but the health risks continue to escalate and the death toll keeps climbing. The immensity of this human tragedy is verging on the unspeakable, said Dr. John Cassils, co-founder of CW Asia Fund:

“It is essential that the appropriate aid reaches those in need in a timely and organized manner through local support in Myanmar. We are making a desperate call for cash donations and it is our sincere hope that the Canadian Government will honour its pledge to match donations and further boost the humanitarian efforts of our country. Canadians have shown great generosity and CW Asia Fund is very eager to assist through our long-standing relationships with organizations on the ground in Myanmar.”

For over eight years, Dr. John and Nina Cassils, two of CW Asia Fund’s co-founders, have worked extensively in Myanmar and have built strong relationships with a number of organizations and individuals that operate within Myanmar, including hospitals, clinics, orphanages, village libraries and local non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). CW Asia Fund is assuring that donations will go directly to those who need it most and in a timely manner. As well as monetary donations, CW Asia Fund is actively sourcing food, medicines and other emergency supplies for those affected by this catastrophe and has been offered the use of a private jet, pre-cleared by Burmese authorities, to deliver emergency supplies. Fully, one hundred percent of donations will be sent directly to local Myanmar organizations.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Trevor Howes
CW Asia Fund
604-619-5909
thowes@gmail.com

Fortunately, we’ve joined up with Nina & John Cassils, and their very worthy and credible non-profit Myanmar Relief effort. John and Nina have been heroes on this side of the world, selflessly working 20 hour days raising awareness and funds, and making sure that all relief gets to the people in the worst affected areas. Nature’s Path is having the honour of contributing several pallet loads of energy bars that will make a difference between life and death for many families. I heartily urge all who can help with food, medicine, water purification equipment and funds, to support legitimate Myanmar Relief, where every day, every hour counts.”

Arran & Ratana Stephens
Nature’s Path Foods Inc.