Disaster Relief to victims of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

Background

On May 2^nd 2008, a level 3 cyclone hit Myanmar. According to data collected by OCHA (Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), 2.4 million people were severely affected by the storm. The main damage was in the 13,566 miles² Delta area with its 6.5 million inhabitants.

The devastation caused by the storm was made worse the governing Junta that restricted the entry, involvement, and scope of activity of international aid missions which to this day, operate in Myanmar under strict limitations.

Number of cyclone victims (according to Myanmar Government and the UN):

Latet's Response

As soon as the magnitude of the damage became public, a situation room was opened at Latet headquarters. Within 48 hours, a Latet relief mission consisting of two representatives with extensive experience in disaster relief - left Israel for Myanmar. The mission's assignments of assessment, coordination, and establishment of inter-organizational collaborations, were supported by extensive fundraising efforts in Israel. Within a fortnight, the equipment raised was transported to Myanmar.

Makeup of relief equipment and its distribution

Some 50 tons of relief equipment worth NIS 750,000 distributed to about 20,000 victims in 53 villages in the Labutta delta area in south Myanmar. This was the result of Latet's cooperation with the Kibbutz Movement, businesses, funds and the Israeli public.

Equipment was distributed in cooperation with Malteser Organization and included: Hygiene kits, underwear, utensils, water-purification tablets, nylon sheets, emergency care kits for the maritime ambulances, first aid kits, water containers, mosquito nets, water pumps and more.

Fund and equipment raising in Israel

The generous donation of $10,000 made by the JDC, allowed Latet to purchase and provide  equipment to Labutta's main hospital – the only hospital in the area – which suffered extensive damage in the cyclone and was inundated with pleas for help by the thousands of victims.

Along with contribution of other foundation, we mange to purchase large amounts of equipment, partially in Israel (in cases products were not available in Myanmar) and partially in Myanmar (in order to reduce cost, purchase products most suited to the local population and conditions and to support Myanmar's economy).

Equipment included Hygiene kits, underwear, utensils, nylon sheets, emergency care kits for the maritime ambulances, first aid kits, water containers, mosquito nets, water pumps and more (see p.4      for details).

Furthermore, several organizations donated goods, products and services including water-purification tablets and medical equipment and medicines for the hospital and clinics.

Aid was provided in the following areas:

Water and sanitation

Cyclone Nargis and the ensuing tsunami caused an extensive contamination and salinization of the drinking water sources in the affected areas: Numerous wells, springs and reservoirs were flooded and tainted, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without clean, safe drinking water.

The equipment distributed in the villages contained the necessary elements to rebuild the area's sanitary system as well as the tools to stop the spread of diseases and plagues.

Alongside the distribution of clean drinking water and water containers, funds were used to purchase and distribute water-purification tablets and water pumps used to cleanse and rehabilitate natural water sources. Special emphasis was given to expeditious distribution and operation of the pumps in order to prepare water reservoirs in time for the monsoon season.  

To further avert the threat of plagues, hundreds of portable toilets were distributed in the refugees' camps. Thousands of personal hygiene kits tailored to fit the local population's needs were also distributed with the goal of helping the refugees maintain basic dignity and minimize the threat of disease spreading through the camps.

Shelter

According to OCHA data, over 100,000 people lost their home in the cyclone. These people were left vulnerable to the effects of the weather (particularly the current monsoon season), spread of diseases, alongside post-traumatic effects caused by the sense of helplessness and defenselessness the loss of shelter has caused. In order to provide immediate response, the team distributed hundreds of plastic sheets which were used to construct temporary shelter. Furthermore, in order to protect the refugees and particularly children from מזיקים   hundreds of mosquito nets were distributed and installed.

Hundreds of water containers and cooking utensils were also given with the goal of helping the refugees maintain the minimal requirements of a functioning household.

Medicine

Medicine and the level and availability of medical services in Myanmar were severely affected by the cyclone: Hospitals and clinics were razed, numerous health professionals were killed and wounded, and medical equipment destroyed. Nevertheless, following the storm, the need for medical aid became acute and widespread and the burden on the remaining facilities was overwhelming. Labutta's main hospital – the only hospital in the area – suffered extensive damage.

Thus, an acute need to provide immediate medical aid via the rivers was created. For that purpose, maritime clinics were established including marine ambulances to transfer patients and provide first aid. These ambulances were equipped by Latet and often served as the first responders on the ground. 

The equipment distributed to the hospital, the clinics and the maritime facilities included medications, oxygen tanks, bandages and first aid kits, medical and sanitary equipment such as syringes, surgical masks, etc. In the framework of the aid to at-risk populations, baby formula was distributed to the clinics.  

Summary

Latet's Organization's mission is to provide aid to needy populations in Israel and around the world regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. This mission guided the work of the humanitarian relief mission to the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar. Despite the intricate physical, technical, political and diplomatic difficulties, the mission acted professionally and succeeded to provide assistance that corresponded optimally with the needs on the ground and overcome the difficulties. Furthermore, the establishment of inter-organizational collaborations with international and local organizations placed Latet as a leading organization in the humanitarian aid arena in Myanmar.

The team's relentless efforts to break through the difficulties and overcome the hurdles involved in providing humanitarian aid to the cyclone victims in Myanmar were successful, thus allowing Latet to offer hope for the future to the hundreds of thousands of victims and refugees.

The emergency operation of Latet seceded to distribute Some 50 tons of relief equipment worth NIS 750,000 distributed to about 20,000 victims in 53 villages in the Labutta delta area in south Myanmar