May 5th: All sounds good.

All of your ideas are good, I just donated $500 last night, I have connection to Yangon, my friend is helping about 100 kids for foods and shelters. So I just sent money to her. She needs money for foods , rice for those kids who has no family or the family couldn't provide for them.

All of us should send $ immediately to many channels and areas!!!

N

May 5th: What do we need?

I am pretty sure water supplies and rivers are already contaminated. But according to my friend here, her mom lives in Mayangone Tsp and they are pumping water up thru Ah-we-si -twin (undersground Well? ) and giving away to the neighbors and friends. I think most people have that water pump system but without electricity they can't pump the water up. Definately water purification tablets will be very useful.

I spoke to some friends and their suggestion is to buy food (rice, beans etc) from near by town of Ygn and transport it into the city. If we can find a restaurant to help us with the dirtribution of food etc. to the needy areas will be great.

Medicine and water tables etc might not be avilable there so we might have to buy it here.

Will email you soon.

PT

May 5th: Let's start

To summarize, we can start with these:

Water
- Purification tablets tablets (I think it is the best idea and most cost effective because water is already there, it is not just usable/drinkable.)
- As PT mentioned, we can help getting water from the existing wells. I assume some people already have generators, but running those generators is a big a problem because gas is costly. We can already start with the funds we have for gas. Heard gas is $10 a gallon there now. We can start small. I think people need to drink, they won't last without water. We can adjust if it doesn't work.

Food:
- Some of us suggested preserve food, ready made, high energy bars, etc.
- Deliver in monasteries first?

I don't think we have much time. We can start with what we have. We have $2500 in hand to start with. We will continue to raise some funds.
We will make mistakes but we will learn and adjust. Time is critical that we need to act fast, not much time to think.

SS

May 5th: Water purification tablets

Water supplies and rivers may be contaminated after a storm like this.

We should send them water purification tablets or even chlorine bleach with Burmese instructions on how to use them. ( 16 drops of bleach per gallon ).

As for the shelter, we should send plastic sheets. They can use it as a basic shelter or keep their belonging dry from rain. They will need medicine for diarrhea and other infectious disease. I don't know what other diseases are common this time of the year.

May we should ask a Burmese doctor with field experience for suggestion. This is just to get them through a few days. People will need to get back on their foot. Fishermen need their boats and farmers need their fields. I hope the government accept all the helps from international agencies.

KL

May 5th: What should we do?

We have not been able to contact anyone in Yangon for 3 days and without inside info it is very difficult to assess the situation.

But I am sure the after match of the cyclone disaster will only get bigger as people go more desperate.

• I think medicine, food and clean water will be most useful. I have to talk to some people to see what will be the most cost efficient way to send food and medicine.
• Water --- Most people in Yangon are equipped with wells but since there is no electricity so they can't pull up the water . If we can give small generator then we can can set up a water supply station for most people and this will be the most cost effient and most productive way. I have to find out the cost and people to help us.
• I don't think we need tents as most monastries can provide shelter to people.

Please send me your ideas too as I am so fruststraed I can't even think straight.

PT

May 5th: Queries to BKK

Hi,

Some of us here briefly meet during lunch time to see what we can do. We thought you may have better information on what's happening in Yangon. Please let us know if you have any information on how we can help. From our side we can donate some funds and some ideas but for implementation, we need more information and discussion with you and among ourselves on how we can go about it.

Some ideas:
1. See HA's email working with local restaurants.
2. Prepare some preserved food packages in BKK or neibouring countries and deliver in Yangon.

Thanks.

SS

5th May: The current need is "Food and Shelter".

The current need is "Food and Shelter".

Food:

I have a relative running a restaurant. If they agree, they could give special price (discount) for food packages to provide neediest in poorarea. Or, they could arrange food services to monastery where many people are depending on food and shelter.

Shelter:

It is possible to buy shelters (tents) here. But it will be much more economical in Thailand. But we need arrangement to send them into thecountry and distribute them.

Let's talk more on this subject. I got to got to meeting at 11:00.

HA

May 5th: How do we help?

Dear All,

As you have heard, Cyclone in Myanmar has destroyed many homes and left many citizens without food and water. As the news article said, the government is welcoming assistance from international community. UN, UNCIEF and Redcross teams will be assessing the situation. I am not sure when and how they will be helping.

How about us? Is there anything we can do? We can raise money but how can we donate them effectively? Do you have any idea? Many people have been suffering already with rising food prices and now with this disaster, I just couldn't imagine how one is coping with the situation.
We have $2,549.35 balance in MEAA funds. If you agree, we can donate this amount at this time when it is most needed. Please do share your thoughts how we should donate this and how we can raise funds. If you know any one who is organizing or working on this, please share the information with us.

One idea from the article: It is very likely that people may turn to monasteries to have temporary shelter. Should we donate funds to cover basic food at the monasteries?

From news article: "… With his home destroyed by the storm, Tin Hla said he has had to place his family of five into one of the monasteries that have offered temporary shelter to those left homeless…."

Thank you.
SS