FACTBOX: Aid offers for Myanmar

Mon May 26, 2008 2:14am EDT
 
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(Reuters) - Myanmar was promised nearly $50 million in cyclone aid at a conference in Yangon on Sunday, but some Western donor nations said their cash was contingent on the junta keeping its word on letting in foreign aid workers and assessment teams.

Up to 2.4 million people face hunger and disease in Myanmar, three weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck the southern Irrawaddy delta region on May 2-3 leaving 134,000 people dead or missing.

The junta said last Wednesday that it needed $11 billion for resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation. On Friday it agreed to admit foreign aid workers to the delta region, after a top-level meeting with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.

The following are some of the aid offers to date:

NGO/IGO CONTRIBUTIONS

RED CROSS: 200,000 Swiss francs ($189,000). Launching appeal for 53 million Swiss francs ($50 million) to help 500,000 people.

-- American Red Cross: $100,000 in funds and supplies.

-- Myanmar Red Cross: Distributing insecticide-treated bed nets and water purification tablets. Government to give 5 billion kyats ($4.5 million) for relief and resettlement.

UNITED NATIONS: About 50 nations pledge $50 million at U.N. donor conference. Most will go to the U.N.'s $201 million three-month appeal. The U.N. World Food Program and partners have dispatched more than 700 tons of rice and food aid to at least 71,800 people.

WORLD VISION, AUSTRALIA: A$3 million ($2.8 million). 25 medical/other specialists to boost 600 staff already in Myanmar.

STATE CONTRIBUTIONS

AUSTRALIA: A$3 million ($2.8 million), A$1 million of that to aid agencies for shelter, water purification and food.

BANGLADESH: Two planeloads of humanitarian materials and food, sending five-member military team.

CANADA: C$2 million ($1.98 million) to organizations such as the United Nations, Red Cross and the World Food Program.

CHINA: 30 million yuan ($4.3 million), on top of $500,000 cash and $500,000 worth of tents, blankets and supplies.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: 2 million euros ($3 million) of fast-track humanitarian aid.  Continued...

 

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