Baltimore, MD, May 6, 2008 — Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is supporting the emergency relief and response efforts of the Caritas Internationalis network in the most affected areas of Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis brought a deadly tidal surge across the low-lying coastal areas of the country on Saturday.

The latest reports of 22,000 dead, 41,000 missing and 100,000 homeless demonstrate dire conditions in which basic food, shelter and water are urgently needed. Assessments on the level of devastation are still underway as communications remain difficult and news trickles out of the country.

"Cyclone Nargis could not have happened in a worse stretch of land. The surge hit in the low lying coastal areas. With the tidal surge at 12 to 15 feet, presumably thousands of people living along the Delta were simply washed away," says Pat Johns, director, CRS emergency response team.

Significant support is critical to ensure life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable people quickly. The Caritas network will coordinate with local and international agencies to determine how best to provide help where it is most needed.

The storm hit Saturday morning, May 3, in the Irrawaddy Delta region, an area populated by 24 million people. Nagris toppled infrastructure in the largest city Yangon (Rangoon) and destroyed tens of thousands of homes across the area. The government of Myanmar has formally appealed to the United Nations for assistance.

CRS has supported long-term development programs and emergency relief efforts, including in response to cyclones and severe natural disasters, in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region for more than 60 years.

HOW TO HELP

Send a donation via check to:

Catholic Relief Services

P.O. Box 17090

Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

Memo line: Southeast Asia Natural Disaster

Call 1-877-HELP-CRS

Or make a secure donation online at www.crs.org.