MSF Press Release
Cyclone in Myanmar (Burma)
Geneva/Yangon, May 9th 2008.
With the announcement that permission has been granted to land the first MSF relief plane in Yangon tomorrow (Saturday, May 10th), MSF continues to intensify its emergency programme. As MSF scales up its operations, there is a need for more technical experts and further supplies in the coming days. MSF has staff in various countries awaiting visas to enter Myanmar as well as several additional planes of cargo ready to leave in the coming days, though these still need permission from the authorities to land.
The first cargo plane, containing 40 metric tons of water and sanitation equipment, relief stocks, medicines, and therapeutic food, will leave Europe this afternoon. Landing clearance has been given, and our teams will be there to receive the material and immediately distribute it to some of the most affected.
MSF teams who were already based in Myanmar responded immediately after the cyclone hit by providing food, basic relief items, medical care, and improved access to clean water.
MSF teams are using two boats to reach the most affected areas in the southwestern tip of the Irrawady Delta, mainly in Haigyi, Tongwa, and Pyinsalu, where 95% of homes were destroyed. So far, nine truckloads of supplies have gone to Bassein, including 14,000 pieces of plastic sheeting, 62 tons of rice, as well as oil, fish and therapeutic food. The teams have carried out several hundred consultations since Wednesday, about half of which were for cyclone-related injuries, while the remainder were for diarrhoea, fever and respiratory infections.
Other MSF teams are carrying out assessments by truck between Yangon and Labuta, including heavily hit Bogaley. In every affected location the teams simultaneously assess the needs in the local area, distribute food and provide medical care. Following the assessments, trucks with additional relief items and food will follow shortly. The food being distributed comes from existing MSF stocks and from the World Food Programme, however more food and safe drinking water are urgently needed as our teams await the arrival of Saturday’s plane.
“Additional teams and key materials should arrive soon to help us scale up our relief effort,” says Hugues Robert, Head of MSF emergency operations in Geneva. "We’ve had very constructive discussions with the authorities and the fact that they have given a green-light for the first cargo plane to land on Saturday is a positive sign. We've seen that the scale of the destruction and the suffering is huge but we will not be able to address these urgent needs without the necessary additional supplies and the arrival of more experienced emergency staff, particularly experts in water and sanitation.”
As MSF increases its operations in Myanmar, the extent and severity of the damage has become clear. In order to address the great numbers of casualties and needs of people vulnerable to exposure, hunger and disease, a much greater response is urgently needed.
For more information please contact Lucy Clayton on 07725 603 775 or Sophie Scott on 07813 772 637.
MSF has 43 international staff and over 1,200 national staff currently working in Myanmar.