May 7, 2008

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH: "With more than a million people left homeless and the rice crop in the Irrawaddy delta destroyed by flooding and salt water penetration, the need for food in Burma/Myanmar is and will continue to be considerable in the wake of Cyclone Nargis," says CRWRC International Relief Director, Jacob Kramer.

"Burma has been a major rice exporter, mainly to Bangladesh, so the income of the country as a whole, and in particular of small farmers and day laborers, will be severely affected."

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org), other international relief organizations and government agencies from North America and Europe are wrestling to get clearance from the Burmese government to bring immediate, emergency assistance into areas of Burma destroyed by Cyclone Nargis last weekend. While there are about 40 international non-government organizations (NGOs) working within Burma, CRWRC staff in the area report that there are few local high- to medium-capacity civic organizations or NGOs located within the country.

Contacts with the leadership of the Reformed Ecumenical Council in Grand Rapids, Mich., with which CRWRC has partnered in earlier food distribution, confirm that most of the Northern provinces of the country are off-limits to foreigners.

"While the situation has improved this morning, electricity and communications are still very inconsistent," Kramer says of the current disaster, "and more than a million people who survived in the affected areas are struggling with displacement and total destruction of their homes and possessions, and loss of their family members."

With the great need for immediate, emergency food aid in response to the still growing tragedy, and the pressure on global food programs that have been severely underfunded due to the rising price of commodities, CRWRC is requesting financial donations to fund the food component in its coordinated response in Myanmar.

"This disaster not only requires the world to share existing food stock," says CRWRC Executive Director, Andrew Ryskamp, "it can also contribute to the shortage at the same time because of damage to Myanmar's fertile delta. Cyclone Nargis will require a long-term, multi-phased response structurally similar to the South Asia Tsunami – and, we hope – a smaller one. A significant financial response from the public will make it possible for CRWRC to come to the aid of Cyclone Nargis survivors: We now have the opportunity do something beyond advocacy on behalf of the Burmese people."

A conference of North American faith-based organizations took place this morning to continue planning and coordinate responses within the Myanmar delta region. A Burmese government assessment mission involving U.N. representatives is also taking place today.

CRWRC is making travel arrangements for an International Relief Manager to assess needs, begin early response coordination, and plan future response activities.

Financial donations for CRWRC's "Burma/Myanmar Cylcone 2008" can be given at http://www.crwrc.org/ or by calling 1-800-55-CRWRC. Checks can be mailed to: CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600.

Christian Reformed Church in North America