Myanmar: Our response

17 June 2008

CARE International has already helped over 230,000 people in the aftermath of the disaster.

Our response has included providing:

• water purifications tablets
• shelter kits
• food
• hygiene kits

Jon Mitchell, CARE Emergency Response Director, recently returned from the Irrawaddy Delta and he spoke of how communities have been coping:

"People hadn't been waiting for aid. They lost everything but they are getting on with their lives by rebuilding from what they can find out of the debris.

What struck me when I spoke to the people was their resilience and sense of community. One village I visited is divided into five hamlets which surround and share a water pond. They knew the first priority was to drain the pond of the contaminated water from the storm to allow it to fill with fresh rain water for the survivors. When we arrived there were 100 people clearing the pond themselves. They said that while there had been conflict in the past, it had been put aside so they were able help the entire community."

CARE has since provided water pumps to make the task easier for the community and to ensure the availability of clean water, food and other essential items to help them rebuild their lives.

CARE is seeking to provide both immediate relief assistance, so people to return to their communities, and support survivors as they seek to re-establish their lives and livelihoods.

Thanks to you the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal donation total has now reached £10 million.

If you would like to donate to our emergency response fund please click here >>>