 Work is still under way to assess the scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone, which brought winds reaching 190km/h (120mph) to Yangon and the Irrawaddy Delta area of lower Burma. The worst natural disaster in Myanmar in decades, Nargis leveled five areas, including the capital Yangon and the low-lying Irrawaddy River Delta.
The humanitarian disaster is in the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region where the storm caused a sea surge that smashed through towns and villages.
"The people in the Delta are in desperate need of food, shelter and clean drinking water," said Su Su Tin, managing director of Exotissimo Myanmar.
"According to the BBC and Red Cross reports are coming out of the delta coast, particularly the Irrawaddy region, that in some villages up to 95% of houses have been destroyed," said Matthew Cochrane of the International Red Cross.
The official death toll has risen to over 60,000 people, but tens of thousands are still missing. Experts believe that the final toll will eventually top 100,000. Ten thousand people died in the town of Bogalay alone, state media said.
The storm destroyed roads, downed power lines and flattened houses, and early estimates are that over a million people have been left homeless.
Drinking water shortages are expected to reach the same scale as that experienced during the 2004 tsunami. Water purification units will in desperate need in the coming weeks.
Exotissimo hasset up an emergency fund with a donationof 20,000 USD, and over 15,000 USD has been donated by our generous travel trade partners. This fund will be managed by Exotissimo until we find a trusted and effective NGO or charity to take over.
Exotissimo Myanmar has already begun providing relief services. We sent a four-person team to the hard-hit Irrawaddy River delta to assess the situation and provide immediate and direct aid. Once on the ground, our team found that families really appreciated the private donations coming direct to them. We began our efforts with funds from Exotissimo Travel and the Appletree Group, and will continue as long as these funds and those from generous donors last.
On 10th May, our team visited a village a village opposite the western part of Yangon where 1300 families were affected by Nargis. 300 families were made homeless by the cyclone and diarrhea has already broken out among those in the public shelters. The government plans to setup a water purification facility. Exotissimo will build a small medical clinic to help the village. The 25 ft X 25 ft facility will cost 4000 USD, and be staffed by a volunteer doctor and nurse. Local Exotissimo staff donated their own personal resources to the victims of Nargis here.
On 11th May, Exotissimo sent a truck to Phyapone and Maubin towns in Irrawaddy River Delta. In these two towns, there are many victims taking shelter in monasteries and rescue camps. Upon arrival, our staff will personally distribute goods totaling 6000 USD, including food, clothing, mosquito nets and blankets.
If you wish to help the people of Myanmar donate here to make a credit card donation for any amount. To put things in perspective: 40 USD will buy one bag of rice that can feed a family of four for a month; 300 USD will pay for a basic house to shelter a homeless family.
By visiting our site today, you have shown that you have a heart and want to help the poor victims of the recent cyclone in Myanmar. These unfortunates may never get the chance to 'thank you' in person. On their behalf we would like to say 'Thank you'.
Exotissimo Travel is a leading Destination Management Company in Southeast Asia. We are not an aid or charity organization, though we do represent a network of 14 operations offices across the area, including four offices in Myanmar. We work and live in the area out of a shared love and connection with the people and the place.
Disasters can destroy lives in an instant, and we are working to minimize its awful impact. Please join us in this effort to provide hope to this unfortunate area. Small contributions now can make incredible differences for many.
Every donated dollar will go to relief organizations. We will use our experience in Myanmar to ensure that the aid goes to charities able to provide the relief efficiently.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
For urgent communication, please e-mail Exotissimo Travel at exoyangon@exotissimo.com. We will fax any urgent correspondence directly to Exotissimo Myanmar.
Exotissimo Myanmar can be reached by phone and fax.
Tel: (951) 255 266 / 255 388 / 255 427 / 255 120 / 255 160 / 255 171 / 255 170
Fax: (951) 255 428
- Ma Pauk (Operations) : +95 9 512 1231
- Den (French) : +95 9 519 9581
- Nwe Nwe (Sales Manager) : +95 9 992 6597
- Kay (Direct Sales) : +95 9 501 9045
- Su Su Tin : +95 9 200 5643
Best Regards,
Exotissimo Travel Team
Exotissimo Travel Group – Head Office
6th Floor Zuellig House, 1-7 Silom Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 THAILAND
Tel: (66 2) 636 0360 Ext.603 | Fax: (66 2) 636 0363 | Visit us at: www.exotissimo.com
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