FACTBOX: Aid for cyclone-ravaged Myanmar

Wed May 7, 2008 5:18pm EDT
 
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(Reuters) - Governments and relief agencies around the world have promised aid and technical support to Myanmar after a devastating cyclone that a U.S. diplomat said may have killed more than 100,000 people.

The destruction wreaked by Cyclone Nargis and its aftermath in the Irrawaddy Delta on Saturday has drawn a rare acceptance of outside help from the Southeast Asian country's diplomatically isolated military rulers.

The following includes some of the aid offers to date:

NGO/IGO CONTRIBUTIONS

UNITED NATIONS: The U.N. has promised to release a minimum of $10 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund and is launching a "flash appeal" to raise much more money for Myanmar on Friday. A five-member U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination team assembled in Bangkok. UNICEF has sent assessment teams to three of the five disaster-hit areas.

RED CROSS: About 200,000 Swiss francs ($189,000) released by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' emergency disaster fund. Relief workers are distributing drinking water, clothing, food, plastic tarpaulins and hygiene kits.

-- Myanmar Red Cross is distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to help prevent malaria and water purification tablets. The government said it would allocate 5 billion kyats ($4.5 million) for relief and resettlement work.

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

WORLD VISION, AUSTRALIA: The Christian relief group pledged A$3 million ($2.8 million) for first month of relief operations in Myanmar.

About 25 medical, health and hygiene specialists to be sent into cyclone-ravaged areas, to boost efforts of 600 permanent staff in Myanmar.

STATE CONTRIBUTIONS

FRANCE: 200,000 euros (around $320,000) in aid

SPAIN: 500,000 euros (around $775,000) to the World Food Programme for Myanmar.

UNITED KINGDOM: Up to 5 million pounds (around $10 million) for emergency relief efforts pledged by Department of International Development. Also sending emergency field team.

AUSTRALIA: Initial A$3 million ($2.8 million) in emergency aid, with A$1 million of that to go to aid agencies to help provide shelter, water purification and food in Myanmar.

NEW ZEALAND: Immediate grant of NZ$500,000 ($394,000) from government to be distributed through aid agencies/United Nations.  Continued...

 
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