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Tragically, Cyclone Nargis struck the impoverished country of Myanmar, traditionally known as Burma, on Saturday, May 3, 2008. The cyclone hit with 130 miles per hour winds and brought a surge of water measuring 12 feet high that destroyed land and million of homes. According to various media outlets, the death toll has reached over 22,000. Over 41,000 are reported missing, and over one million people, who are homeless, are in need of food and emergency assistance. The pleas of these vulnerable people have reached our heart, and MAZON is joining the massive international relief efforts.

MAZON has partnered with long-time grantee, International Medical Corps (IMC), to provide vital assistance to help the survivors of the deadliest unprecedented natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recorded history. MAZON has committed an initial grant of $10,000 to IMC for its relief efforts.

As of May 15, 2008, IMC received visas and has deployed to Myanmar to deliver life saving medicine and medical supplies. IMC has secured millions of dollars worth of donated medicines, medical supplies and other relief items that will provide initial care to approximately 50,000 people for a three-month period, including IV solutions and antibiotics to treat acute respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, cholera, malaria, dengue and typhoid fever. Once the immediate emergency has subsided, IMC will begin the hard work of rebuilding the health, sanitation and food systems.

Cyclone-ravaged Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia and is also the poorest due to the ruling of a reclusive military government. This largely rural country has an estimated population of 50 million people. Tragically, the region that was harshly hit by the cyclone is the highly populated (24 million people) Irrawaddy Delta including Yangon (Rangoon), the nation’s main city. The Irrawaddy Delta is also known as the cornucopia land, which yields most of the country’s rice and crops. Since the cyclone hit, food has been scarce and the latest reports state that crowds of hungry survivors are storming shops in quest for food and clean water.

In the wake of this humanitarian crisis, critical support is needed to ensure life-saving help to those most vulnerable in the region. MAZON is urging supporters to provide aid to affected individuals through a Relief Fund for Myanmar. Make sure to indicate that your donation should be used for "Myanmar Relief."