As the death toll soars, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its response in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, a Category 4 tropical storm that struck Myanmar on May 3, killing more than 22,000 people, leaving at least 41,000 unaccounted for, and displacing more than one million people to date. In response to the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, the ADRA Myanmar office in Yangon is preparing to meet the needs of families who survived the cyclone and subsequent flooding in targeted areas in hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta in the south. Immediate aid is expected to include water, water purification tablets, food distribution, and shelter materials.

On May 3, the ten-hour storm made landfall on the coast of the Southeast Asian nation with wind speeds reaching 132 mph. The cyclone hit heavily populated Yangon directly, leaving many streets, roads, and bridges impassable due to the considerable amount of downed trees and other debris. In some villages, early estimates indicate that 95 percent of homes have been destroyed.

The majority of the deaths are due to a 12-ft tidal wave triggered by the cyclone that swept through the Irrawaddy Delta, flooding and carrying away homes in low-lying villages. On May 4, a state of emergency was declared across five regions, including Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu, Karen and Mon, in which 24 million people live. On May 5, foreign ministry officials said they welcome international aid and relief items, such as roofing materials, plastic sheets and temporary tents, water purifying tablets, blankets, and mosquito nets.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org