Jo Mason and Per Andersson have both secured visas to travel to the area. Jo, who left London last night, is due to arrive in Myanmar later today. Per, who is currently in Sri Lanka, flies out and should be in-country by Wednesday morning.

“Their first priority will be to carry out an emergency assessment of the situation. That will involve providing an overview of the extent of the disaster, the level of need, the impact on the affected population, and how best Concern can assist,” said Paul O’Brien, Concern’s Overseas Director.

A fundraising appeal launched in Ireland last week has already raised more than €50,000. But Concern must quadruple that amount in the coming days and weeks.

“Because of the political situation, people are understandably a little hesitant as to whether they should give,” says Caroline Hickson, Concern’s Director of Public Affairs. “But it is vital that we separate the politics from the humanitarian situation. Our partners are already on the ground, overseeing how donations are spent, and now members of our own team will be able to support them. The important thing is to do the maximum possible in the space given to do it. Every donation will help save lives.”

Jo and Per will link up with two of Concern’s European partner organisations, who were already working in Myanmar before Cyclone Nargis struck.

Welthungerhilfe and Italian aid agency CESVI have been working to distribute food and shelter supplies to victims of the cyclone in some of the most affected areas around Rangoon. Recent reports indicate that the authorities in Myanmar are beginning to facilitate greater access to aid agencies. Over the coming days, Welthunger Hilfe will distribute up to 75 tonnes of rice, as well as pulses, cooking oil, salt, sugar, tarpaulins, soap and water purification solution for more than 6,000 people.

“With many water supplies contaminated, and the risk of water-borne diseases running high, the key needs more than a week after the disaster are access to clean drinking supplies and sanitation facilities,” said Paul O’Brien.

“Thousands of people, whose homes have been washed away or badly damaged, are still in urgent need of basic shelter items such as blankets and tents. There are also reports that people from the worst affected areas around Rangoon and in the Irrawaddy delta are moving towards some of the larger cities in search of help,” he added.

Concern’s emergency response team can be deployed at short notice in the event of a major humanitarian disaster. Meanwhile, Concern staff in India and Bangladesh are also on standby should they be needed.

Paul O’Brien and Caroline Hickson are both available for interview.

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Laura O’Mahony, Head of Communications ++ 3531 417 7729 / 086 803 5388
• Nicola Donnelly, Press Officer ++ 3531 417 8024 / 087 970 3678