More than 23,000 survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar are to receive help from Tearfund's Christian partners.
As international concerns grow about the pace of relief efforts, Tearfund is managing to get much-needed aid through via well-established organisations, one of which has links to more than 4,000 churches.
Medical supplies, food, water and shelter are being deployed to areas badly affected by the cyclone's 120mph winds and 12ft tidal surges.
Two boys who have received food aid from a Tearfund partner. Picture: Htein Win
Both Tearfund's two main partners in Myanmar have worked in the country for many years and have been able to respond quickly using their extensive local knowledge and contacts.
Their initial assessment of areas where they are already working shows widespread destruction of homes, schools, other public buildings and crops.
Resourceful
To ensure a speedy response, Tearfund is channelling money directly to these partners which they are using to buy relief supplies from within the country, rather than importing them.
Sudarshan Sathianathan, Tearfund’s Head of Asia Region, said, `In spite of a variety of difficulties our partner organisations have been extremely resourceful and determined in mounting a relief response.
`We need to stand by them in prayer and offer sustained support during this crisis.'
Overall aid agencies are experiencing varying degrees of access to the country, causing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to express `deep concern; over the `unacceptably slow response’.
Meanwhile the Myanmar government says the death toll from the cyclone has risen to 38,000, although UN estimates say it could be nearer 100,000. The UN also reckons 2.5 million people have been severely affected.
The military authorities also say the number of people missing is now 27,000.
As well as fears about the outbreak of disease, worries are mounting about food supplies.
The UN says the cyclone flooded rice-growing areas as paddy farmers were harvesting their dry season crops, which accounts for 20 per cent of annual rice production. Already prices of rice in Yangon have risen by 50 per cent.