Date: 2008-05-12
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The Premier, John Brumby, today announced the Government would donate $500,000 to the Red Cross’ Myanmar Cyclone Appeal to help get much needed aid into Burma following the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis. Mr Brumby said the $500,000 would be donated directly to the Red Cross who are on the ground in Burma providing emergency assistance to the thousands affected by the cyclone.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The Premier, John Brumby, today announced the Government would donate $500,000 to the Red Cross’ Myanmar Cyclone Appeal to help get much needed aid into Burma following the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis.
Mr Brumby said the $500,000 would be donated directly to the Red Cross who are on the ground in Burma providing emergency assistance to the thousands affected by the cyclone.
“Official reports have stated the death toll from the cyclone to be at 22,000 with a further 41, 000 people missing,” Mr Brumby said.
“Unofficially there are reports of a much higher death toll and up to one million people left homeless.”
Mr Brumby said the images coming out of Burma of the devastation caused by the cyclone were shocking and the recovery effort would be huge.
“After the initial emergency and relief stage, there will be a huge long term task of rebuilding shattered communities,” Mr Brumby said.
“Just as Victoria did with the Asian tsunami in 2004 it is right to offer financial assistance to deal with this crisis.
“The Red Cross is just one of many aid agencies organising appeals and currently has volunteers handing food and fresh water, malaria tablets, clothes and temporary shelters.
“Our sympathies are offered to those members of the Australian Burmese community who have lost family members or friends in this natural disaster,” Mr Brumby said.
Australia has a Burmese population of around 12,000 people of which almost 1800 live in Victoria.
Mr Brumby said members of the public wanting to make individual donations could do so through a number of agencies including:
www.redcross.org.au
www.oxfam.org.au
www.savethechildren.org.au
www.careaustralia.org.au
www.worldvision.com.au
www.caritas.org.au