Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal
Thousands of people have been killed and an estimated one million affected by Cyclone Nargis, which ripped through Myanmar (Burma) on 2 May.
Donate to the British Red Cross Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal
This is the worst cyclone to hit the impoverished Asian country since 1926 and the highest death toll of any cyclone since Bangladesh in 1991.
Whole towns and villages have been wiped out by the cyclone, which roared for ten hours, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and destroying power lines. As many as 95 per cent of homes were destroyed in some villages in the low-lying delta region. Within the capital Yangon itself, many homes have been left without roofs.
The Myanmar Red Cross was on the ground soon after the storm hit, assessing the situation in the district of Yangon.
Red Cross relief workers have been delivering vital relief items to the many homeless survivors. These include household items, clothes and shelter materials.
The priority needs are shelter and clean water. The British Red Cross has pre-positioned relief items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulins and blankets in a warehouse in nearby Kuala Lumpur which is on standby to be deployed.
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China Earthquake Appeal
More than 60,000 people have been killed and five million made homeless by the devastating earthquake that struck south west China on 12 May. Many more have lost their homes and the death toll continues to rise.
The epicentre of the 7.9 magnitude quake was Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province, with another seven provinces affected. Tremors were felt as far away as the capital Beijing.
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A number of heavily populated areas have been badly hit. In the town of Beichuan, 80 per cent of buildings are reported to have collapsed, including several schools, burying children and teachers under piles of rubble. The nearby town of Mianzhu, which has a population of 60,000, was also seriously affected.
Roads and communication lines have been severely disrupted, and heavy rains are forecast, which will further complicate rescue efforts.
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Soon after the earthquake struck, volunteers from the Red Cross Society of China were on the ground distributing emergency relief to the survivors. But as the situation continues to unfold, more help is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life.
People need food, clean water and shelter to help them survive the immediate aftermath of the quake.
The Red Cross is working around the clock to reach those most in need.
