Fwd: Emergency Update: Myanmar Cyclone

Dear Friend, Just this morning I received notice that 3 Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) cargo planes carrying 110 tons of relief supplies had arrived in Myanmar. They contain tents, food, water and sanitation supplies, and medical materials critically needed to reinforce the ongoing relief activities our teams in Myanmar are carrying out in the aftermath of the devastating May 2nd cyclone. Tens of thousands are estimated dead or missing throughout the southwestern Irrawaddy Delta. Villages in the region have been razed and many survivors have lost their family and all of their possessions. Water sources have been contaminated, food is scarce, and there is a risk of disease outbreaks. People are in urgent need of help. Independent, unrestricted funding from donors like you has allowed our medical teams to be present in Myanmar for over 15 years, and to mobilize immediately to respond to this crisis. In many locations throughout the delta we are the only aid group present. As Juli Niebuhr, Deputy Country Manager for Myanmar told us today, "At the moment our main concern is to get the essentials to people through the most effective means possible." Led by highly experienced local field staff, the teams started our emergency response with the supplies we had in stock, including rice, canned fish, shelter material, and medicines. The infusion of relief supplies flown in by Doctors Without Borders over the past two days will help the 22 medical teams now doing consultations, distributing food, and shelter materials. The teams now have 8 boats to facilitate distribution of supplies to those most in need. But we are frustrated by the limitations Myanmar's government has placed on international staff. International aid workers already in the country are so far being prevented from reaching some of the most affected areas. International staff, particularly those with expertise in water and sanitation, are desperately needed but visa approvals have been exceedingly slow. While the challenges are great, we are determined to do more to help the people affected by the cyclone. We have a fourth and fifth cargo plane on the way to Myanmar and will continue to press for permission to send in the dozens of international staff on stand by. The longstanding support of donors like you has been critical to our quick response to disasters such as the Myanmar cyclone, the South Asian Tsunami, and the Pakistani earthquake. Please consider helping us provide medical assistance in Myanmar and in nearly 60 other countries around the world. Sincerely, Nicolas de Torrenté Executive Director Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in nearly 60 countries. New York Office: 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001