Don't Forget Cyclone victims

Few days after Cyclone Nargis brought disaster and sufferings to people of Myanmar, I sms'es two political leaders from two different political parties suggesting they should use their good office to help the cyclone victims. The next day, one State government which one of the politician is an exco member announced a RM 1 million contribution to help the victims in Myanmar.

I did not received any response from the other politician who is a minister in the federal government. Few days after the sms, earthquake strikes Sichuan province in China and news with photos of destruction caused by the earthquake spread wide and far. The latter politician's party whose membership comprising those with historical and cultural link with China sprang into action to raise fund for the earthquake victims. Many people with economic interest and cultural link with China also join in the band wagon to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake.

And the attention on victims of Cyclone Nargis was slowing down mainly due to lack of information and pictures showing the suffering of the cyclone victims compared to the earthquake victims which was widely published in local vernacular chinese newspapers.

The Myanmar junta need to take responsibilities on the increasing suffering of the cyclone victims. By virtue of stopping relief workers and international media from going into disaster areas, the actual impact of the disaster was not really been gauged and estimated. A picture speaks a thousand words and these pictures were not easily obtained in the military junta controlled state. It resulted that less people emphatised with the Myanmar victim compared to the earthquake victims.

At current state of increasing cost of living, people will still fork out some cash to help out but most will channel to the earthquake victims because seeing is believing. Pictures of school children trapped and killed in Sichuan most probably will moved a person to chip in for the earthquake fund rather than the cyclone fund as many might not be comfortable donating to Myamnar junta because they are still having strong reservation on the junta handling of the fund.

Whatever it is, please do not forsake the victims of Nargis, continue to help them. There are many channel to help them thru the NGOs who are already inside Myanmar to help the victims.

Myanmar Relief Thru Thailand

International media has been highlighting the displeasure of western governments on the reluctance of the Myanmar military junta to allows foreign aid to enter the country to help the cyclone victims.

On the other hand, information originated from the World Fellowship of Buddhists(WFB) which is based in Thailand, stated that the Myanmar military junta allows foreign aids to go into Myanmar via Thailand. These humanitarian aids were coordinated by the Thai Red Cross Society and the Royal Thai Army.

The WFB Secretary General, Phallop Thaiarry was quoted as saying,
"the Burmese government has expressed sincere gratitude to His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s expression of concern for the people of Burma. Furthermore, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has ordered her personal secretary to check what basic necessities were in demand so that relief could be granted thru the border. The Burmese government allows that outside assistance will come through Thailand only (processed by the Royal Thai Army and Thai Red Cross Society) and Thailand will act as intermediary."

The WFB also announced the formation of a special Task Force to coordinate and provide humanitarian support and care to the cyclone Nargis victims. The WFB has already arranged aid to the Myanmarese since May 6, 2008. The relief unit was sent to distribute medicines, canned food and drinking water to those victims. Medical team were also despatched to help those who needs medical care.

WFB is seeking financial support and donation can be transmitted thru the account below.

Beneficiary’s name: The World Fellowship of Buddhists
Account number: 116-1-20131-5
Bank: Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Ltd.
Address: Sukhumvit 35 Branch
593/7-9 Sukhumvit Road, Wathana
Bangkok, Thailand
Swift Code: AYUDTHBK

Cyclone Nargis Strikes Myanmar

The following is the latest news from Associated Press on the Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar last saturday.

Myanmar cyclone death toll soars past 22,000: state radio
1 hour ago

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar state radio says the cyclone death toll has soared above 22,000 and more than 41,000 others are missing.

Up to 1 million people may be homeless after Cyclone Nargis and some villages have been almost totally eradicated, according to the World Food Program.

Cyclone Nargis tore through the country's heartland and largest city, Yangon, early Saturday.

Aid agencies reported their assessment teams had reached some areas of the largely isolated region. But they said getting in supplies and large numbers of aid workers would be difficult.
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Are we going to do something to help out the people of Myanmar? After losing their homes; food, personal effects and medicines will be scarce and outbreak of disease will be looming. Some friends in the Buddhist circles are already in the move to get going some sort of relief to help the cyclone victims.

Do whatever you can. Ask your Dharma centres to have donation drive to collect funds for the victims. Will keep you all posted once I got the necessary information on the modus operandi to sent the funds/medicine/food/etc to Myanmar.