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Facts and Questions
Fast Facts
Death Toll: Over 84,537 people.
Missing: 53,836 people.
Affected: Up to 2.4 million people.
Schools: 4,000 either damaged or destroyed.
Scope: Cyclone Nargis is the most devastating cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people died in Bangladesh.
Tidal Wave: According to news reports more deaths were caused by a tidal wave than the storm itself. The wave was up to 3.5 metres high and swept away houses in low-lying villages.
Disease: The spread of disease is an immediate threat for survivors living without access to adequate food supplies, clean drinking water and sanitary conditions.
Children Sponsored by Australians
No areas where Australian sponsored children live have been reported as affected by the cyclone. Please be assured that if we receive information of concern regarding any sponsored children we will contact the sponsor as a matter of urgency.
All correspondence regarding sponsored children, including cards, letters and annual progress reports, will be significantly delayed while we focus on delivering critical emergency aid.
FAQs
- How has World Vision been able to respond immediately?
- How much money will reach the field?
- There have been reports of international aid not reaching Myanmar, is this true?
- Why are such severe restrictions placed on NGO operations in-country?
- Will money donated by the public go direct to non-government organisations or via the Myanmar Government?
- Why is World Vision allowed to respond?
- For how long will World Vision continue to respond in Myanmar?
- Why is World Vision referring to the country as Myanmar and not Burma?
- Does World Vision accept offers of donations of goods?
- Does World Vision have the capacity to spend the money donated by the public?
- What happens if World Vision is unable to spend the funds raised in Myanmar, for instance, if a change in the political situation limits the ability to utilise funds?
- How will the current global food crisis impact the situation in Myanmar?
- How can I make a financial donation?
- Is my donation tax deductible?
- Why does World Vision work in Myanmar?
1. How has World Vision been able to respond immediately?
World Vision has more than 600 staff operating ongoing projects based in Myanmar. Nearly all of these staff are from Myanmar, and the government has allowed them to distribute aid. They are now responding to the current crisis.
2. How much money will reach the field?
We do not expect our overhead costs to exceed 10%, however, this is dependent on the unfolding scale of the disaster and the amount of money we are able to raise.
3. There have been reports of international aid not reaching Myanmar, is this true?
International Humanitarian Workers
World Vision has a strong existing national staff team with relief expertise and experience. United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, has announced that all aid workers will be allowed into Myanmar. Nine international World Vision staff with expertise in emergency distributions, logistics, water and sanitation, and human resources are currently working in Myanmar.
Supplies
World Vision has sent in relief flights loaded with extra supplies, including 2.3 million water purification tablets, 5,000 tarpaulins, 5,000 kitchen sets, 5,000 hygiene kits, 2,000 mosquito nets, and two water purification systems that can purify up to 15,000 litres of water per hour.
4. Why are such severe restrictions placed on NGO operations in-country?
World Vision Myanmar is made up and led almost entirely by national staff, which means we are well placed to work in country and respond to disasters. World Vision believes in the ability of the people of Myanmar to address their own issues because they best understand their country’s context.
5. Will money donated by the public go direct to non-government organisations or via the Myanmar Government?
World Vision has been operating in Myanmar for over 40 years. We have a strong relationship with the government due to our longstanding development work focused on ensuring the wellbeing of children.
World Vision funds directly support the work we do on the ground. We are accountable and audited for every dollar spent. Funds raised will be used to establish emergency shelters, purchase household kits, and provide for health and water and sanitation needs. World Vision has long established programs in Myanmar and money will support relief and recovery work in these areas as well as in new locations. In all such arrangements World Vision ensures that it remains independent and transparent.
Agreements are in place with key ministries that enable the implementation of World Vision’s programs. World Vision directly implements projects with communities and all resources are managed through our independent systems.
6. Why is World Vision allowed to respond?
World Vision has been invited to provide assistance by the Government of Myanmar. We are pleased the Myanmar Government has appealed to the international community for support. World Vision has a long history of working in Myanmar and is therefore respected for its capacity and commitment to help the most vulnerable, especially children, in Myanmar. We are also seen in many ways as a local organisation due to our large staff of nationals.
7. For how long will World Vision continue to respond in Myanmar?
The scale of this disaster is unprecedented in Myanmar. We need to act swiftly to deliver critical humanitarian assistance and prevent widespread hunger and disease. The money donated by the public will be used to provide safe drinking water, food, sanitation, shelter and healthcare. In addition it will also enable the rebuilding of peoples livelihoods.
World Vision is in Myanmar for the long term. We will work on rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods with a special focus on children. Our response will encompass emergency relief, community rehabilitation, livelihood recovery, and infrastructure rehabilitation.
8. Why is World Vision referring to the country as Myanmar and not Burma?
World Vision generally refers to the country as Myanmar, the country’s official name. It is commonly used throughout the country. Myanmar is the official UN-recognised name.
9. Does World Vision accept offers of donations of goods?
World Vision must remain in compliance with international standards. As such, we are very grateful for any donor offers, however, we are limited in what we can accept in order to comply with these standards and provide the most effective response.
We have emergency supplies pre-positioned around the globe for such occasions. However, often we need to supplement these through existing supplier networks and donations. Generally we will accept emergency supplies from Corporate or Major donors where they fit the need and standards mentioned. We do not accept individual or public donations of products (i.e. second-hand clothes, shoes, food or medical supplies).
The cost of shipping and distributing these products is significant and therefore we are grateful for financial donations to support these costs.
10. Does World Vision have the capacity to spend the money donated by the public?
Yes. World Vision has been implementing programs in Myanmar for over 40 years. As such we have capacity in Myanmar with staff already responding to the disaster. We also have staff on standby for deployment to Myanmar following additional needs assessments. Globally, World Vision is one of the largest private humanitarian agencies and we are utilising our experience to respond to this disaster. World Vision in Myanmar has been deeply involved in disaster relief responses occurring in Myanmar in recent years, including the 2004 Asia Tsunami.
11. What happens if World Vision is unable to spend the funds raised in Myanmar, for instance, if a change in the political situation limits the ability to utilise funds?
World Vision Australia fully intends to spend all funds raised through the Myanmar Cyclone Appeal to respond to the immediate and longer term needs of the people affected by the emergency. However, in the event that there are changes in circumstances beyond our control which limit our ability to utilise all funds in the affected area – for example, if there was a change in the political or security situation in the country which meant that it was no longer possible to carry out our work – any excess funds raised will be used by World Vision to help people in other life-threatening emergency situations.
12. How will the current global food crisis impact the situation in Myanmar?
Both short-term and long-term needs have been created by the current global food crisis. World Vision has been advocating for the international community to fulfil the unmet funding needs of the UN World Food Programme and welcomes the commitments made by donors so far.
In Myanmar, assessments indicate that food prices have already begun to rise as a result of the disaster. There are issues of both access and availability of basic food stocks and World Vision will continue to assess the situation and respond accordingly. In the long term, World Vision programs will focus on restoring the livelihoods of affected households.
13. How can I make a financial donation?
You can donate to the Myanmar Cyclone Appeal online now, by calling 13 32 40 or at any ANZ branch nationally. No receipts will be issued by World Vision Australia for donations made at an ANZ branch. Please retain your ANZ deposit slip as proof of your donation.
14. Is my donation tax deductible?
Your gift may be tax deductible depending on your own personal tax position.
15. Why does World Vision work in Myanmar?
We have been working in Myanmar for more than 40 years. Our work touches tens of thousands of lives in the poorest regions of the country. Although the operating environment is challenging we feel it is right to focus our efforts on working with communities at the grassroots level to bring about positive changes. Our work is targeted at those who need it most and is provided in a way that ensures poor communities have a huge amount of say in deciding where they feel assistance should be provided.
United Nations poverty indicators show that Myanmar has extensive development needs. Challenges include malnutrition, HIV and AIDS, malaria, access to education, the vulnerability of children to trafficking, and many other areas. We have extensive programs to address these needs.
