S’pore and Myanmar Red Cross sign agreement on Cyclone Nargis relief

S’pore and Myanmar Red Cross sign agreement on Cyclone Nargis relief
Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, January 25

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Red Cross signed an agreement on January 22 with its Myanmar counterpart to provide humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis.

For a start, the collaboration will see three rural health centres and a cyclone shelter being built in three townships in the Irrawaddy delta. Money to do this will come from funds raised by the Singapore Red Cross.

This latest development adds to other efforts the Singapore Red Cross has been making, as part of its cyclone relief work in Myanmar.

The organisation had collaborated with various Singapore welfare organisations, as well as agencies in Myanmar, to provide assistance to victims in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.

Projects completed included the rebuilding of a new village at Auk Pyun Wa, which include homes, a school, a clinic, a cyclone shelter, a school and an orphanage in Thanlyin.

Projects underway include a cyclone shelter in Twantay, two schools, a cyclone shelter in Bogalay and another cyclone shelter in Kungyangone.

The Singapore Red Cross has received a total of S$11.6 million from members of the public and corporate sector for its Cyclone Nargis fund. Of this, almost S$9 million has been expended or committed.

The Singapore Red Cross will continue to be the custodian of the fund and says it will assist victims of Cyclone Nargis, so long as the funding remains available.