Burma Cyclone Survivors Need Your Help

by James Parks, May 13, 2008

Survivors of the cyclone in Burma line up to receive donated food and supplies.

Despite the refusal by Burma’s military dictatorship to allow relief agencies to deliver food, medical care and supplies to survivors of the devastating May 2 cyclone, the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB), the country’s underground democratic union movement, is delivering aid to some affected villages. We cannot report exactly which villages are receiving the aid for fear the government will intercede to stop the assistance. But AFL-CIO Solidarity Center representatives in the field confirm that FTUB unions are delivering some aid. But much more help is needed.

Click here to make a donation to help Burmese workers.

Hundreds of thousands of people are without shelter and clean drinking water after the cyclone. While the military regime confirms a death toll of more than 31,900 and as many as 1 million homeless, both the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon and the United Nations stated they expect the number of deaths to exceed 100,000, and as many as 6 million are now homeless. Some estimate between 1 million and 2 million people could die as a result of malnutrition, unclean drinking water and disease spreading throughout crowded refugee shelters.

The FTUB has issued an urgent plea to the global union movement for aid in launching rescue, relief and rehabilitation work for victims of the storm. FTUB, a partner of the Solidarity Center, plans to use relief fund contributions to distribute clothing, medicine and nonperishable food for displaced workers and their families, build temporary shelters and assist in providing needed counseling and health clinics.

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