New updates from Myanmar and emergency response by CADIS Thailand and CTF India

According to the latest news bulletin of the ECHO (European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) the death toll continues to rise in Myanmar following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter at Sagaing on 28 March. In Myanmar, the AHA Centre reports that, as of 14 April, there have been 3 655 fatalities, 129 people remain missing, and 4 824 have been injured. Nearly 200 000 individuals are currently displaced, with 41 733 sheltering in 145 temporary facilities. (cf. ReliefWeb)

CADIS International, in collaboration with CADIS Thailand, CTF India, and Missione Calcutta responded to the crisis by organising an emergency response team to assist the survivors of the earthquake that hit Myanmar. 

The biggest obstacle is still reaching the affected areas. Furthermore, according to the government protocols, foreign volunteers and organizations are not yet getting a green signal to enter the country. However, the Catholic church is facilitating the matter so that help will come easily and be facilitated.

According to the latest updates from Fr Rocco Sriprasert, MI, director of CADIS Thailand and Caritas Thailand, who keeps in touch with Caritas Myanmar, as well as from Fr. Siby Khaitaran MI, national coordinator of CTF India, two (2) future interventions are being planned - relief distribution (CADIS Thailand) and medical mission (CTF India.) 

CADIS and Caritas Thailand are preparing for relief distribution as soon as the government of Myanmar issues a green signal.  Caritas Myanmar was able to send initial relief goods (food and non-food) to the most affected areas. The goods were coursed through the Diocese of Taungoo.  Direct contact to the Embassy of Myanmar in Thailand is being done to facilitate the transportation of relief supplies in the most affected areas. We are hoping for a positive response.  
 

CTF India: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar and St. John's Medical College, together with the support of CTF India, are organising a possible joint intervention.  CTF India will conduct a more in-depth needs assessment once on site, in preparation for a more systematic and programmatic engagement with earthquake survivors.

According to UNICEF, more than 857,000 people have been assessed in both urban and rural areas and their urgent needs include cash assistance, emergency shelter, food, safe drinking water and water sources for domestic use, healthcare, and sanitation support. Forty-four per cent of those assessed had yet to receive some form of assistance. There has been widespread destruction of water systems, including broken boreholes and damaged piped networks, along with the collapse of over 76,000 latrines. There is a growing concern among communities about the risk of infectious diseases due to improperly managed corpses and the lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities.

A cluster of mild to moderate acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases has been reported in Sagaing township and urban areas of Mandalay, though no cases of cholera have been confirmed to date. (April 16, cf. ReliefWeb)

 Photo credit: courtesy of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

The need is high and we ask for your support to organise aid for the earthquake survivors. Support the CADIS International Emergency Fund: 

To: FONDAZIONE CAMILLIAN DISASTER SERVICE INTERNATIONAL
Cause: Myanmar earthquake
 

CC: INTESA SANPAOLO s.p.a.
IBAN: IT19G0306909606100000144767
Codice BIC/SWIFT: BCITITMMXXX    
or
CC: Banca Popolare di Sondrio
IBAN: IT03 M056 9603 2350 0000 3570 X95
Codice BIC/SWIFT: POSOIT22

You can support us also through Paypal at the following link: 
https://www.cadisinternational.org/come-puoi-aiutarci-dona-ora