On May 4, 190km per hour winds and 3.5 metre waves ripped through the most densely populated area of Myanmar (Burma). Already, there have been 15,000 deaths, with more than 10,000 of these being from a single town, Bogalay. A further 30,000 people are missing.
There are reports of at least 60 villages having been completely washed away.
United Nations officials have stated that hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, and the figure could even run into millions. Those left homeless are still without electricity and have very limited access to shelter, food, and water.
Austcare is providing assistance through partner organisation ActionAid, which has an existing office in Myanmar.
According to Shihab Ahamed, ActionAid's Project Manager in Myanmar, 'There is complete devastation here. I couldn't even recognise the areas. In what was a green city, 80% of trees have been uprooted.'
With his local team, Shihab is in the process of conducting an immediate needs assessment. He has also met with other organisations and UN agencies operating in the region to work out how to best coordinate efforts in the affected areas.
Together, they are distributing emergency relief items such as clean water, food, temporary shelter and first aid supplies.
Please give now to the Austcare Myanmar Cyclone Appeal to help survivors in need.
Should the funds raised in the Myanmar Appeal exceed the amount required to fund our response to the needs of our work in Myanmar, Austcare will dedicate any excess funds to our Emergency Response Fund to enable quick response in other emergencies.