#032/08 May 7, 2008

U.S. Mission in Thailand to Help Support
U.S. Government Relief Assistance
to the Burmese People in Cyclone Aftermath

The United States Mission in Thailand joins the United States government and its people in offering its deepest condolences to the people of Burma and those who lost loved ones in Tropical Cyclone Nargis. 

In response to this tragedy, the U.S. Agency for International Development yesterday apportioned US $3.25 million in initial assistance for the relief effort.  This assistance will be allocated by the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which is currently pre-positioned in Bangkok awaiting permission to enter Burma.  U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Eric G. John stated that the DART team stands prepared to enter Burma to render assistance relief, adding that “the DART personnel are experienced in dealing with massive humanitarian disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami crisis."  

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), the most urgent needs of populations in affected areas include plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking sets, mosquito nets, emergency health kits, food, and possibly fuel supplies. 

Tropical Cyclone Nargis made landfall at approximately 18:30 local time Friday, May 2nd to the west of Rangoon in the Irrawaddy River Delta.  When it hit land, Nargis had winds of approximately 132 miles per hour and reportedly produced a storm surge 12 feet high in some areas.  Burmese state radio has reported at least 22,000 deaths and tens of thousands are missing, though these figures remain unconfirmed at this time.