Cyclone Giri, Burma: Launch of fund-raising website by Giri Relief Committee

By Burma Partnership • November 11, 2010

The Giri Relief Committee urges the international community to support its fund-raising drive for the survivors of cyclone Giri. Today the Committee launched its fund-raising website: www.girirelief.net.

On October 22 and 23 2010, Cyclone Giri hit Arakan State, Western Burma (Myanmar), affecting more than 260,000 people. Out of 17 townships in Arakan State, the most severely affected are Kyaukphru, Mraybon, Pauktaw, Marmbra and Manaung.

At least 101,923 people are now homeless and food and clean drinking water are scarce. Cases of dysentery have been reported and cholera and other water-borne diseases may follow. Malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases will increase with lack of shelter and mosquito nets.

“Almost the whole townships of Pauktaw, Mraybon and Kyaukphru have been devastated,” said Aung Marm Oo, the Secretary of the Giri Relief Committee. “Many people have lost their homes and their means of making a living.”

The Giri Relief Committee was formed in response to the massive devastation caused by the cyclone. Local volunteers in Arakan State started taking relief to cyclone-hit areas as soon as they could travel. Limited local resources soon ran out and they sought aid from elsewhere.

The immediate goal of the Giri Relief Committee is to rapidly transport basic necessities to people affected by the cyclone. In the longer term, we will help local farmers and fishermen rebuild their lives by helping them to replace farming tools, livestock and fishing equipment that have been lost.

The Giri Relief Committee is composed of organisations and individuals within Arakan State and overseas. There is a seven-member committee and scores of volunteers in Arakan State who are eager to help. Many of these volunteers also took part in Cyclone Nargis relief efforts in the Irrawaddy delta in 2008.

“We are urging the international community to help our local Arakanese communities to help themselves,” said Aung Marm Oo. “We have the volunteers and the local knowledge to deliver aid quickly, to the worst affected people. We just need your help to buy essential supplies.”

For more information or to request an interview, please contact Aung Marm Oo at [email protected] or at [email protected], mobile number + 66 (0) 81-6736326.

Tags: Arakan/Rakhine, Cyclone Giri, Humanitarian Assistance, The Giri Relief Committee

This post is in: Press Release

Cyclone Giri, Burma: Launch of fund-raising website by Giri Relief Committee

About Burma Partnership

Spotlight

Campaigns