Geneva, May 5, 2008--CARE is cooperating with the UN and Myanmar government authorities to assess the destruction from Tropical Cyclone Nargis, and is prepared to respond with immediate aid. Myanmar’s state-owned television and radio reported that 4,000 people died in the storm which struck Myanmar on Saturday. Nearly 3,000 more have been listed as missing, and the final death toll could go much higher. The UN says that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. The storm hit Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, which has a population of five million people, and also tore through five districts which include some of Myanmar’s most important rice growing areas and have a population of 24 million. 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, please contact:
Bill Dowell, CARE International, Geneva, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it