OTTAWA, May 23 /CNW/ - Today, Canadian aid agencies, under the banner of
the Humanitarian Coalition, have received 1.6 million dollars from the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in support of their relief
efforts in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Save the Children will receive $600,000 for mobile health services to
reach over 90,000 survivors. CARE will receive $1 million to deliver water and
purification supplies, restore water supply systems, and provide non-food
items such as plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, and blankets.
The Canadian government's willingness to match individual donations by
Canadians to the partners of the Humanitarian Coalition is welcomed, as the
agencies continue to expand their support for survivors across the Irrawaddy
Delta in Myanmar.Save the Children activities to date:
- Save the Children has now reached a total of 160,632 people.
- They are delivering food, water purification tablets, plastic
sheeting, kitchen equipment and re-hydration salts to families whose
homes have been destroyed.
CARE activities to date:
- CARE has now reached more than 90,000 people.
- CARE has distributed food, clothes, personal hygiene items, cooking
and eating utensils, mosquito nets, first aid kits, bedding, and
temporary shelter equipment.
Oxfam activities to date:
- Oxfam's local partners are delivering relief to 68,000 people.
- They are distributing essential life-saving items such as rice, beans
and oil, water, soap, clothes, family first aid kits, and plastic
sheeting, plus repairing damaged wells and providing basic sanitation
facilities.
- Canadians are asked to donate to THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION by
calling 1-800-464-9154, logging onto www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca.
- The agencies have spokespeople available for interviews on the
emergency response.
For further information: Sue Rooks, Save the Children Canada, Media
Relations, The Humanitarian Coalition, srooks@savethechildren.ca, Cell: (647)
273-7134
