Edrychwch ar y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

The Disasters Emergency Committee in Wales launched its Myanmar (Burma) appeal today Thursday 8 May 2008 at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff to aid the survivors of the devastating Cyclone Nargis that has affected large areas of Myanmar.

Representatives from DEC Cymru member agencies at the launch called on the Welsh public to donate money to the appeal in order to help the DEC member agencies carry out immediate and longer-term relief work in the affected regions.

Richard Laydon, DEC Cymru Chair said:

Public donations will be used for immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicines and shelter. But the scale of the devastation is so immense that a huge relief and reconstruction effort will be needed over the coming months.

Teams from DEC member agencies together with flights of emergency relief items are now arriving in Myanmar and reaching those people most affected by Cyclone Nargis.

Richard Laydon added:

As more aid now arrives in Myanmar the DEC Cymru is asking the Welsh public to make an urgent donation to its Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal.

An emergency medical team from Merlin have just arrived in Yangon and will join the hundreds of local Merlin staff who have been established in the country since 2005. The charity has permission to use a river cruiser to deliver medical aid to the tens of thousands who are stranded in the Irrawaddy Delta region.

Merlin Chief Executive Carolyn Miller said:

The flat coastal region was one of the worst affected as the Cyclone tore through the country. All Merlin's medical boats were destroyed and as a result accessing people has been difficult. Our teams are on the ground now in Laputta township, treating trauma patients as well as running a rapid assessment of the health needs.

A Red Cross aid flight with tarpaulins, jerry cans and shelter kits for more than 2,000 people is now on its way and is due to arrive in Myanmar later today and another will land on Friday. The British Red Cross Emergency Response logistics team will arrive in Yangon tomorrow evening and the immediate priority will be to ensure aid is distributed to those most in need.

Yesterday CARE distributed water in Yangon to approximately 10,000 people in temporary shelters. 100,000 family kits are being prepared and will be ready to fly from Thailand as soon as possible. The kits include blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, clothes and hygiene items.

Donations to the DEC Cymru Myanmar Appeal can be made online or by phoning the Disasters Emergency Committee on: 0870 60 60 900. Donations can also be made at any Oxfam, Red Cross or Save the Children shop, and at banks.