HELP US HELP THE PEOPLE OF MYANMAR

On the evening of May 2, 2008, a cyclone (hurricane) with winds of 120mph hit the most populated area of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Unofficial estimates put the death toll at more than 100,000 people, with almost half of those being children. Up to 95% of homes were destroyed in the rural areas and more than 600 villages were submerged in a tidal wave estimated to have been up to 15 feet high. This tidal wave alone killed livestock and destroyed the rice growing region in the fertile south. Further increasing the death toll, outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, and malaria are now being seen.

This disaster is approaching the scale of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that affected millions. Unfortunately, the Myanmar government has been blocking much of the aid offered by foreign countries. Only a few non-governmental organizations have been allowed to operate within the country; the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) are among these few. A small group of students have come together to raise money that will be given directly to the Athens chapter of the American Red Cross located at 100 South May Avenue (just off East State Street). The ICRC currently has a team of local Myanmar volunteer aid workers on the ground distributing aid such as water purification tablets, tarpaulins, and mosquito nets to the victims of this tragedy.

Because the ICRC has been able to operate where others have been denied access, and because of the easy logistics of transferring the money from Athens to Myanmar, we have chosen to send all money collected to them. We have been distributing collection cans and boxes throughout the Athens area – both cash and checks are welcome (please make checks out to the “American Red Cross” with “Myanmar Disaster Relief” in the memo line). Your donations will be collected from the various sites on Monday May 19, after the International Week Street Fair where collection boxes will also be available. After that, we plan to collect donations on a weekly basis. You can donate to our cans/boxes or send your tax-deductible contribution directly to the Athens American Red Cross at the above address.

The OU student organization heading up the disaster relief collection efforts is the Athens chapter of the Indonesian student organization, Permias. In 2006, we were able to collect over $3,000 to send to Indonesia in support of relief efforts following a deadly earthquake (http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/Opinion/2007/06/01/20375). We are again reaching out to the Athens community to help those who are in the most desperate need.

For the most up to date information on the cyclone relief efforts, go to www.irrawaddy.org. If you have any questions or comments on our efforts in Athens, you can e-mail us at MyanmarDisasterRelief@yahoo.com or Dyah Ariningtyas Hening (Arin) at permias@ohio.edu (www.permiasathens.us).

Please help us help the people of Myanmar.

Signed,

OU Students for Myanmar Disaster Relief