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cyclone Nargis -
disaster relief
National Disaster
- Cyclone Nargis
- Category 4 Cyclone
- Devastates Myanmar (Burma) May 3rd
Official Death Toll
- 77,738 as of 20/5/08
- 55,917 missing
- 100,000 patients treated 18/5/08
Response
Population appeared to have been unprotected, and unprepared for impending disaster exaggerating the destructive capacity.
Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, making landfall in the Ayeyarwady Division and hitting the former capital, Yangon.
Of 37 townships affected by the cyclone, 15 are considered to be 'worst-affected'.
Current estimates suggest that 2.4 million people were affected. 1.3 million people are estimated to have been reached so far by International NGOs, the Red Cross and the UN.
Official figures as of 16th May state that 77,738 people have been killed and 55,917 remain missing.
fth updates
Click here for more archived FTH Field Reports.
22/7/08 - True Stories - Families say thank you for new homes
Our church partners sent a brief report on some of the families that have already moved into their new homes.
Most are overwhelmed to move into a home better than they had before.
Click here to read the update.
2/7/08 - ANZAC Field Report Released - Myanmar
Myanmar Catastrophe
Over 130,000 killed or missing.
FTH rushes to partner with local Myanmese church to bring emergency food and relief items into this devestated country.
Download Standard Quality - 0.8mb PDF
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Contact the office to receive your free hardcopy in the mail. Multiple copies available for churches or small groups.
6/6/08 - Souls Saved! People Fed! Homes Provided!
Our Pastor on the ground emailed us last week to joyfully inform us that many people have given their hearts to the Lord, and that the central church building is more full than it's ever been.
Over two weeks, 275 people have accepted Christ.
Our logistics coordinators on the ground are estimating that perhaps 20% of total aid is being distributed in Myanmar is through our church partners.
2/6/08 - Myanmar Catastrophe - Logistics Update
Every second day, FTH relief partners on the ground, are purifying 1800 litres of pond water, into clean drinking water thanks to 4 portable water purifiers.
They have distributed 3000 bags of rice to 40,000 families. Our partners are gaining more access into the Delta region where most of the deaths and destruction occurred and more food and relief supplies are being prepared as we speak.
A medical team of six doctors, eight nurses and six pharmacists are treating over 200 patients every day.
250 church families had lost their homes in the Cyclone and have been prioritized for first phase of home construction. We're glad to report that 31 new homes have already completed. 58 more are under construction thanks to the donations provided by partners and friends of FTH. You can help the remaining 170 families get out of the rain and into homes by making a donation today.
Although areas close to the capital Yangon are returning to normal quickly, the Delta region remains in an emergency phase.
"The condition of people in the IDP camps in delta is getting worse, refugees are trying to flee into the forest, begging for food and cloths etc."
22/5/08 - senior Pastor sends Appreciation and Thank you
"Thank you once again for your support, your prayers and your concern. It is greatly appreciated and is a real encouragement to us here.
Thank you for all your help. Keep praying for us here. God Bless."
Click here for the full update.
21/5/08 11.32am - Myanmar Disaster Relief Update – Distribution Update
We have discovered 200 families that need temporary residences. They had been staying in public schools, but the Government is telling the schools to reopen for education, and the families need to leave.
Click here to read 5 testimonies from people needing shelter.
21/5/08 3.28am - Myanmar Disaster Relief Update – Distribution Update
As of today, our partner church in Yangon has distributed food and relief items to 60,000 people. New avenues of distribution continue to open up allowing us to make deliveries of emergency rations to survivors in the Boogale region in the Delta.
fth field reports
16/5/08 11.40pm - Stefan Radelich Field Report No.3
FTH has just received this report of food and clean water distributions in Yangon province.
"Although travel for foreigners like myself is still restricted, our local church partners are able to get into the disaster areas. Areas such as Dala where hundreds of people are sheltering in a public school with no roof!"
Click here to read the full report.
14/5/08 10.00pm - Stefan Radelich Field Report No.2
FTH has just posted this summary of day one activities in Yangon province.
"The Delta region is flooded with storm water, but it actually has contaminated all fresh water with salt. They are struggling for the kind of clean water that FTH can help provide through the purifying pumps we brought in. They will be of immediate use if he can get them into the affected areas."
Click here to read the full report.
14/5/08 9.07pm - Stefan Radelich Field Report No.1
FTH has just released Stefan's initial impressions on arrival.
"I arrived in Yangon on schedule; miracle after miracle to get in here with the gear carried. I’m aware of a reportedly a little progress on the macro scale (UN, large NGO's) day by day, but we can do much on the ground through the indigenous church here. First day has been very productive in gathering information and assessments from various sectors."
You can read his report by clicking here.
media updates
Click here for all media Updates:
- Video Appeal by Stefan Radelich on his return
- Video Interview by NBC affiliate WNDU before his trip
- Audio Interview #2 - Stefan for THE HARVEST SHOW
- Audio Interview #1 - Stefan by Ben Evans
- Video Update by Ben Evans
- Video Appeal by Ben Evans
reconstruction updates
While the Irrawaddy Delta continues to remain in an emergency disaster relief status, reconstruction efforts have began in other areas.
For just $750* FTH Church partners can rebuild homes for displaced survivors providing permanent shelter that removes them from continual tropical downpours.
A network of 185 orphanages across Myanmar has lost 14* buildings that need to be rebuilt. Each orphanage can be rebuilt for just $15,000.
* Updated 6/6/08 3.31pm
Click here for more information.
23/05/08 - Click here for testimonies of five survivors.
16/09/08 - Click here for testimonies of five survivors.
22/07/08 - Click here for reconstruction testimonies.
16/09/08 - Click here for reconstruction testimonies.
30/09/09 - Click here for testimonies of three survivors.
photo galleries
Almost 100 photos have been posted at these pages.
Photos Updated 14/5/08 | Gallery 01
Photos Updated 21/5/08 | Gallery 02 | Gallery 03
Photos Updated 23/5/08 | Gallery 04 | Gallery 05 | Gallery 06
Photos Updated 23/5/08 | Gallery 07 | Gallery 08
Photos Updated 30/6/08 | Gallery 09 | Gallery 10 | Gallery 11
Press releases
PR #2 - Bob departs for Washington D.C. to expedite visas
PR #1 - A month before normal utilities are restored in Central City of Yangon
u.n. situation reports
Click here to read expanded OCHA Sitreps
Latest Report #35 released 26/6/08
OCHA Situation Report No. 16 - 20th May 2008
(United Nations Office CoOrdinating Humanitarian Affairs)
- Official death toll doubled on 17th May to 77,738 people
- Official register of missing peoples doubles also to 55,917
- Unofficial figures are STILL considerable higher
- Number injured rose steeply to 19,359 up from 1,403
- 2.4million people are affected by cyclone destruction
- 1.4 million people are estimated in delta region alone
- 500,000 people estimated to be receiving assistance
- Emergency phase is set to continue for some time
- 239 Internally Displaced Camps now exist
- 91,000 displaced people in their region
- 25,000 displaced to other regions
- 90,000 out patients, 10,000 in-patients treated to date
- 2,887 mild & 124 severe diarrhea cases
- Water system is compromised, forcing people to collect pond and river water which seems to be widely contaminated
- Before disaster 1/3 children under 5years suffer from some form of malnutrition - Children are among most vulnerable in any disaster but in this weakened state - it can be a lethal combination
- Huge infusions of food are clearly needed
- Estimated $10 million worth of seed is needed to restart planting season
(UN) Integrated Regional Information Network articles
"MYANMAR: Cyclone assessment reveals critical food, water shortages
BANGKOK, 25 June 2008 (IRIN) - An estimated 46 percent of families in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady delta have less than two days' worth of food, according to an initial post-disaster assessment...
Food shortages were just part of the preliminary findings, with 60 percent of households reporting inadequate access to clean drinking water, while 22 percent reported being under psychological stress...
And while the region's resilient villagers have rebuilt some form of shelter for themselves, those are mostly fragile bamboo structures, with an estimated lifespan of just two years, far worse than the sturdier wooden houses they had before.
"They are building back worse, not building back better," Blewitt said."
Click here to read this article in full
Click here to read other IRIN articles
secular media reports
Click here for the latest secular media reports on the ongoing situation in Myanmar.
You can help!
We urgently need your best gift to help his nation recover from this devastating cataclysm.
Please click here to make your donation now.