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| Don't forget Burma, says top aid worker | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 15 2009, 12:04 PM (56 Views) | |
| Warren | Feb 15 2009, 12:04 PM Post #1 |
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Don't forget Burma, says top aid worker May 21, 2008 04:13am Article from: AAP AS diplomatic efforts continue in a bid to get vital relief supplies moving, an Australian aid official has urged the world not to forget the cyclone victims of Burma. Melbourne woman Bridget Gardner, the head delegate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Burma, yesterday visited the Irrawaddy Delta, the region hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis, which struck on May 2-3. She is one of six Australians in a 20-delegate team from the federation in Burma, also known as Myanmar, in the wake of the cyclone, which has left more than 130,000 people dead or missing. The international community has attacked Burma's ruling military junta for preventing international aid teams from reaching the worst-hit areas. Ms Gardner said aid was reaching badly affected regions but urged the world "not to forget us, not to forget Myanmar in spite of all the other things that are going on in the world", such as the devastating earthquake in China. "On the ground, things are happening but of course everybody wants things to happen bigger, and better, and faster," Ms Gardner said from Rangoon today. "There are still very vulnerable communities in the delta, the ones that are the most difficult to reach, so support is still required for some of the actions are being taken." The federation has landed 25 aid flights in Rangoon, delivering 302 tonnes of goods for distribution to those in need, Ms Gardner said. A further 230 tonnes of food and aid are expected to arrive shortly. The federation has sent 42,000 mosquito nets, 36,000 tarpaulins, shelter kits for about 35,000, more than 20,000 jerry cans and more than 7000 kitchen kits to Rangoon for distribution. Local Red Cross volunteers have already distributed more than 180,000 water purification tablets, 28,000 litres of clean drinking water, 23,000 items of clothing, and 12,000 jerry cans to survivors in the delta region. "What we do know is that local volunteers are already taking action, so the Myanmar Red Cross is taking action. They took action from day one, they put on their bibs and they got out there," she said. "What's perhaps missing is the added value of some international expertise in disaster management and disaster response. "We have the people in Yangon (Rangoon) ready to go. We're having negotiations with authorities and we are assisting the Myanmar Red Cross with its efforts." |
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