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20 June 2008The Myanmar Red Cross, supported by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is intensifying distributions of relief to cyclone-hit areas,
particularly monsoon shelter kits, as the rainy season brings increased risk of disease.Although humanitarian access to the region has improved, the International Federation of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies is taking a strategic approach by recruiting people for an intense training programme in Yangon in basic relief management. Once trained and deployed to the affected
delta, each team of two will recruit and train two more people and together manage the relief operation in their area. The intention is to improve the ability of the Myanmar Red Cross to respond to
disasters in its own right.Emergency reliefCyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 May causing massive destruction with 78,000 dead and 2.4 million people in need of life-saving
support. So far, the Red Cross has distributed water, food and relief items to more than 300,000 beneficiaries and is currently reaching more than 10,000 people per day.Shelter is one of the
most pressing needs and two tarpaulins are being distributed for each family. A community approach is used for the tool kits with one kit being provided for five families to share.In many
areas reached, the Red Cross is the only organisation operating. Last week, 16,400 families were provided with shelter material and hygiene kits.Psychological supportAs well as
increasing relief distributions, Myanmar Red Cross volunteers are being trained in community-based health and first aid, including psychological support. This will be one of the key needs of
affected communities as the most painful losses experienced are those of people rather than property or possessions.Rachid Boumnijel, British Red Cross relief support officer, said: "The local
Red Cross volunteers were the first to respond to the crisis, helping people hours before the international audience learned of the tragedy. They continue to put their own loss aside to help others
and are recognised as the humanitarian heroes of the ongoing disaster response."More about our Myanmar
responseCyclone Nargis in picturesMyanmar information sheet
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Residents wait as people from a non-governmental organization arrive to donate rice at a Cyclone Nargis-hit village in Bogalay, southwest of Yangon in this picture taken June 25, 2008. Picture taken ...
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