Geneva, May 5, 2008--CARE is cooperating with the UN and Myanmar government authorities to assess the destruction from Tropical Cyclone Nargis and is ready to respond. Myanmar's state-owned televison and radio reports that as many as 4,000 people died in the storm which struck Myanmar on Saturday. Nearly 3,000 more have been listed as missing, and the UN says that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. The storm hit Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, and also tore through five districts which include some of Myanmar's most important rice growing areas. With communications, including telephone lines and mobile phone networks, seriously damaged, it may take days before the full extent of the damage is known.

CARE has been working in Myanmar for more than 14 years, with nearly 500 staff engaged in projects in 120 townships. Much of CARE's work has focused on food security, health, HIV/AIDs prevention and water and sanitation projects. Cyclone Nargis caused serious damage to CARE's offices in Yangon, although none of CARE's staff in the office were hurt. CARE has resources in Myanmar and is ready to help provide emergency food aid, along with emergency shelter materials and household equipment _________________________ For more information, and to set up interviews during the conference, contact William Dowell, CARE media coordinator, Tel: +41 79 590 3047, or send an email to dowell@careinternational.org