Burma relief efforts to continue, second relief team to be dispatched to disaster zone
DDM's Relief Team in Burma returned to Taiwan on 19 May 2008 and began reporting on the situation in Burma. Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation (DDMSWCF) met that evening to collate and study all relevant information and examined future direction in conducting relief operations there.
Chen Guokai, Director of DDMSWCF contacted Burmese-Chinese, Cai Fungcai, who expressed grave concern that an epidemic outbreak of infectious disease will occur in the disaster areas, and that disaster victims desperately need basic necessities, in particular food and water.
DDMSWCF began planning the provision of clean water facilities in Burma, considering the specification of appropriate water purifiers, methods of transportation and the feasibility of purchasing them locally.
The first relief team received tremendous support from the local Burmese-Chinese community and were able to purchase some of the material supplies in the local market. DDMSWCF is planning to dispatch a second relief team of 4-5 people with the specific task of providing clean water and delivering medical supplies and co-ordinating the relief operation with local Chinese community to maximise the relief effort.
DDM will continue to liaise with the local Chinese community, gather the latest information and find out the needs of the disaster areas, determine the scope of relief operations and assess the possibility of carrying them out, so that the second relief team can conduct the relief operation smoothly upon arrival.
(translated by DDM Australia Editing Team)