Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Burma. Latest estimates are that more than 100,000 lives have been lost.
Our local partners are already responding on the ground, distributing water purification tablets, blankets and medicines to 100,000 people in the worst-hit areas.
But, with limited aid getting in due to lack of access, more than 2 million people are now at significant risk of disease.
Please donate what you can to our Burma appeal
It is hoped our appeal will raise £2 million. We are also part of the wider, DEC coalition of charities that has launched an appeal to raise funds.
You can donate online or call 08080 004004 to make a telephone donation.
Video: Our Burma expert Ray Hasan explains what survivors urgently need, how Christian Aid’s partners are already responding – and how you can help:
Please donate what you can to our Burma appeal.
Christian Aid’s Burmese partners have been able to respond in the immediate aftermath, using the supplies already available to them.
However, the scale of this disaster means that the response needs to be on a vast scale which can only happen if the Burmese regime allows international aid agencies into the country.
‘Supplies will run out unless more aid is allowed into the country,’ says Ray Hasan, Christian Aid’s Burma expert.
‘Our partners are saying that there are outbreaks of disease already. There is no time to lose.’
Supplies needed urgently
Christian Aid partners urgently need more supplies of water purification tablets, medicines including salt solutions, mosquito nets, blankets and clothing and materials to rebuild homes.
They report that people are asking for rice seeds, as their supplies have been damaged. Unless people plant the seeds in the next month, they will have no supplies of rice until May 2009.
In the longer term there will be the need to rebuild houses, create early warning systems and improve infrastructure that can withstand cyclones.
What your donation can do
• £4 could provide water purification tablets for 10 people for one day (3 litres per person)
• £10 could provide a relief kit for a family that would include some food, water purification tablets and medicine
• £20 could help provide two relief packages containing water purification tablets, medicines and food
• £40 could pay for an early-warning system such as loudspeakers and flags for a community
• £100 could help pay towards materials for temporary shelters.
Please give generously.