Relief Efforts for Those Affected By Myanmar Cyclone

May 6, 2008—Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is supporting the emergency relief and response efforts of the Caritas Internationalis network in the most affected areas of Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis brought a deadly tidal surge across the low-lying coastal areas of the country on Saturday.

The latest reports of 60,000 dead or missing and 1 million homeless demonstrate dire conditions in which basic food, shelter and water are urgently needed. Assessments on the level of devastation are still underway as communications remain difficult and news trickles out of the country.

People stay under their house after cyclone Nargis hit the town of Phyar Pon near Bogalay, southwest of Yangon May 8, 2008. Photo by REUTERS/Stringer (MYANMAR)

"Cyclone Nargis could not have happened in a worse stretch of land. The surge hit in the low lying coastal areas. With the tidal surge at 12 to 15 feet, presumably thousands of people living along the Delta were simply washed away," says Pat Johns, director, CRS emergency response team.

Significant support is critical to ensure life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable people quickly. The Caritas network will coordinate with local and international agencies to determine how best to provide help where it is most needed.

The storm hit Saturday morning, May 3, in the Irrawaddy Delta region, an area populated by 24 million people. Nagris toppled infrastructure in the largest city, Yangon (Rangoon), and destroyed tens of thousands of homes across the area. The government of Myanmar has formally appealed to the United Nations for assistance.

CRS has supported long-term development programs and emergency relief efforts, including in response to cyclones and severe natural disasters, in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region for more than 60 years.