Yesterday I read in some of the news websites regarding the news of a powerful cyclone (which has been given the name Nargis) killing more than 20 thousand people and destroying more than million dollar properties and resources. Everywhere there is bad smell from dead bodies. The cyclone came with speed of 240 km/hr(150 mph). More than 40,000 people are still missing. Around 1 million people have lost their homes. The rice-growing heartland of Myanmar has been completely devastated by this Cyclone Nargis. This may cause long-term food shortages for its people. According to the experts, Myanmar has suffered much more from the cyclone than it did from the tsunami a few years ago. However the military rulers of Myanmar seems to be reluctant to ask for international help.

Some U.S. diplomats in Myanmar are saying that more than 100,000 people may have died in this cyclone. Also there is risk of disease outbreaks in Myanmar. According to the satellite map made available by the U.N., the storm’s damage was concentrated over about a 30,000-square-kilometer area along the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban coastlines, home to nearly a quarter of Myanmar’s 57 million people.

Now Myanmar is receiving aid offers from different parts of the world. The U.N. World Food Programme had begun distributing food in Cyclone affected areas of Yangon. US President George Bush has requested Myanmar’s military government to allow the U.S. to help find the missing, distribute food to the victims and thereby help stabilize the situation. Indian Government has expressed their deep distress at the devastation caused by the natural disaster to the Myanmar Government. Meanwhile, India has also dispatched two naval ships carrying food items, tents, blankets, clothing, medicines etc. to Myanmar.

If you want to help the support the disaster relief in Myanmar, then please join the recovery efforts to assist the cyclone victims. Your donation to either of the organizations like UNICEF or Direct Relief International will help survivors of the cyclone to start a new life. For giving the donation through Google, please Click Here. Believe me, 100% of your money through Google Checkout will reach the UNICEF or Direct Relief International to support emergency relief efforts in Myanmar.