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Portland OR — Today, Mercy Corps shipped 18 pallets (over nine tons) of emergency supplies to help survivors in disaster-affected Myanmar and China where the agency is operating on-the-ground relief efforts. Leaving from Portland by truck, the shipment will be routed through Seattle where it will be air lifted to Bangkok with the help of DHL Express Ltd.
In addition, Mercy Corps announced a new partnership in Myanmar/Burma with the UK-based medical aid agency Merlin to provide relief to cyclone survivors, as part of Merlin's emergency health care mission. Mercy Corps will be working with Merlin in the Laputta District where up to 80,000 of the pre-cyclone population of 350,000 died in the storm.
With an estimated 2.4 million people affected in Myanmar and at least 4.8 million homeless in China, today's air lift brings critical supplies to survivors of recent disasters. The combined value of materials, shipping and storage tops $1 million in humanitarian assistance.
Mercy Corps' material aid team facilitated the shipment of over $300,000 worth of supplies that includes safety, health, shelter, and communications materials. Specific materials include thousands of pairs of work gloves and wind-up radios and flashlights, tarps, and hundreds of multi-tools. Oregon-based companies donating materials include Leatherman Tool Group Inc., Nike Inc. and LaCrosse footwear.
Mercy Corps will add school kits to the shipment, which include color pencils, paper, erasers and more - to be used in the agency's "Comfort for Kids" activities in China. This program helps children regain a sense of normalcy and process the trauma of the large-scale natural disaster. Nike has contributed soccer balls for sports-related youth programs to help children cope with stress through play.
"We've learned from past experience what types of supplies people need following a major disaster and that's what we're sending to China and Myanmar," said Matthew Schwartzberg, senior material aid officer for Mercy Corps. "The materials we've chosen have critical value in emergencies but are not typically provided by governments and other aid groups. The needs remain great and DHL and the other companies involved are helping Mercy Corps reach those who need help most."
DHL will store the entire shipment at its Bangkok warehouse and Mercy Corps staff, including a Portland-based aid worker, will manage distribution of the supplies to China and Myanmar. DHL's donation of freight and warehouse storage is valued at around $750,000.
"DHL take's great pride in contributing its logistics expertise to deliver critical solutions in disaster situations," said Dan McHugh, CEO of DHL Express - Asia Pacific. "Our employees across the world have responded swiftly to the events in Myanmar and China, and with the support of our teams in the U.S. and Asia, we are pleased to be partnering with Mercy Corps once again on delivering relief to the communities that need it most."
In Myanmar, Mercy Corps' global emergency operations (GEO) team members are on the ground working to address medical, health, water and sanitation needs. Mercy Corps' longer-term plans in Myanmar include Cash-for-Work programs that pay residents to clear debris, repair infrastructure and address other immediate needs, similar to programs Mercy Corps successfully ran in countries affected by the 2004 tsunami.
In China, Mercy Corps continues to work through local partners All China Youth Federation (ACYF) and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) on relief and long-term programming that will best meet the needs of earthquake survivors. The agency will focus on psychosocial programming as a longer-term recovery program for children.
Mercy Corps is currently accepting donations for humanitarian assistance to both cyclone and earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps and reputable local partner organizations will monitor distribution of donations.
HOW TO HELP:
Mercy Corps
Myanmar Cyclone Fund - or - China Earthquake Fund
Dept NR,
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
www.mercycorps.org - or - 1-800-852-2100
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