The Canadian Press: UN says 25 per cent of cyclone aid lost to Myanmar currency controls

The Canadian Press: UN says 25 per cent of cyclone aid lost to Myanmar currency controls: "UN says 25 per cent of cyclone aid lost to Myanmar currency controls

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BANGKOK, Thailand — A UN official says as much as 25 per cent of cyclone relief aid in Myanmar is being lost because of the military government's foreign exchange system.

Dan Baker, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Myanmar, says he is concerned that the losses could upset donors who have already shown a reluctance to fund the relief effort."

Regional exercise to prepare for disasters

Regional exercise to prepare for disasters: "ASIA'S top security forum yesterday agreed to hold its first disaster relief exercise, aimed at better preparing the region for emergencies such as this year's Myanmar cyclone and China earthquake.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told reporters that the Philippines-based exercise, initiated by Washington and Manila, could begin next year."

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Access is there, donors should respond generously, says Holmes | Early Warning Food Security Health & Nutrition Natural Disasters Refugees/IDPs

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Access is there, donors should respond generously, says Holmes | Early Warning Food Security Health & Nutrition Natural Disasters Refugees/IDPs: "YANGON, 25 July 2008 (IRIN) - Following a three-day mission to Myanmar, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes says he hopes for stronger donor response in the wake of the Post Nargis Joint Assessment Report (PONJA) report released in Singapore on 22 July."

Asia-Pacific eyes coordinated disaster relief work | Newsweek News | Newsweek.com

Asia-Pacific eyes coordinated disaster relief work | Newsweek News | Newsweek.com: "(SINGAPORE) Asia-Pacific powers on Thursday announced an ambitious plan to pool their military and civilian resources for disaster responses in a region beset by cyclones, earthquakes and floods.

The region has been devastated by major natural disasters over the past several years, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the deadly Myanmar cyclone and the large earthquake in China in May."

Railway Museum Fundraising Derailed By Flood Damage - Madison News Story - WISC Madison

Railway Museum Fundraising Derailed By Flood Damage - Madison News Story - WISC Madison: "In total, flood damages at Mid-Continent are estimated at about $3 million.

'This was something we'd never seen before, not even close,' said Meyer.

When asked if they plan to reopen, Meyer said, 'Our guys have been here at this site since 1963. They've built what you see around you and gone through a lot of sweat equity. It was mostly volunteers who established this place, so to just give up would be unthinkable.'"

County residents help save local Red Cross - NJ.com

County residents help save local Red Cross - NJ.com: "We surpassed our goal,' chapter Executive Director Laura Steinmetz announced Tuesday at the organization's 90th annual meeting at Bogey's Club and Cafe at the Pitman Golf Course.

The chapter had experienced financial difficulty for local programs following a string of hurricanes - Katrina, Rita and Wilma - and the 2004 tsunami where donations it would normally keep at home went around the world.

The campaign, Steinmetz observed, aided the local organization in ways other than financially."

Pace of Myanmar's recovery surprises US | starbulletin.com | News | /2008/07/22/

Pace of Myanmar's recovery surprises US | starbulletin.com | News | /2008/07/22/: "The leader of the only U.S. medical team to enter Myanmar since a cyclone struck two months ago said yesterday he saw a surprising number of replanted rice paddies and more reconstruction than he expected."

wfn.org | Thrivent Financial to Fund Lutheran Efforts for Midwest Flood Relief

wfn.org | Thrivent Financial to Fund Lutheran Efforts for Midwest Flood Relief: "CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Minneapolis, a faith-based membership financial organization, has announced a plan to generate $1.5 million to aid flood-affected areas in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin."

Over 4,000 survivors in Myanmar cyclone-hit area provided with healthcare_English_Xinhua

Over 4,000 survivors in Myanmar cyclone-hit area provided with healthcare_English_Xinhua: "YANGON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 4,249 survivors in Mawlamyinegyun, one of the cyclone-hard-hit areas in Ayeyawaddy delta, have been provided with healthcare by the government's mobile medical team serving on board a vessel, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Monday."

Myanmar cyclone recovery cost tops $1 bln: U.N./ASEAN | International | Reuters

Myanmar cyclone recovery cost tops $1 bln: U.N./ASEAN | International | Reuters: "SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Recovery from a cyclone that tore into Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta in May, leaving at least 138,000 dead or missing, will cost more than $1 billion, a report by the United Nations and Southeast Asian nations concluded."

Humanitarian groups concerned that UN aid flights in Myanmar to end next month - International Herald Tribune

Humanitarian groups concerned that UN aid flights in Myanmar to end next month - International Herald Tribune: "A United Nations decision to end aid flights to Myanmar next month could hurt relief efforts already struggling to reach millions of survivors with adequate food and water, humanitarian groups said Friday."

The Hawk Eye-Volunteers come from all over country to lend a hand

The Hawk Eye: "OAKVILLE -- Mike Husbands of Texas celebrated his 76th birthday Tuesday over cake and ice cream at the Solid Rock Baptist Church with a few of his colleagues from the Texas Baptist Men along with a lot of strangers.

Some are from Georgia, others from Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Iowa, and they all sat and shared sweet treats after a day of hard work tearing up sheet rock, wood and other debris from Oakville homes destroyed by last month's devastating flood."

Panda Research in China Hampered by Earthquake - Philanthropy.com

Panda Research in China Hampered by Earthquake - Philanthropy.com: "Panda Research in China Hampered by Earthquake

The earthquake that struck China two months ago has had a crippling effect on a research facility that studies panda bears, according to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered."

:: TheSouthern.com - Southern Illinois' Homepage ::

:: TheSouthern.com - Southern Illinois' Homepage ::: "Victims of last March's flood could soon have some much-needed relief.

Southern Illinois Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, a coalition of social service agencies and churches, recently formed to organize relief after disaster strikes.

The group is putting its immediate efforts toward helping people still recovering after the March floods, said Ed Hoke of Herrin, the coalition's leader."

Int'l relief supplies for Myanmar cyclone victims reach over 8,000 tons_English_Xinhua

Int'l relief supplies for Myanmar cyclone victims reach over 8,000 tons_English_Xinhua: "YANGON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- International relief supplies, sent by 31 countries and one region as well as 19 organizations for Myanmar cyclone victims, amounted to 8,408 tons as of the end of June after the country was hit by storm Nargis in early May, official media said in a compiled statistics Monday."

Myanmar urges donations for cyclone rebuilding

Myanmar urges donations for cyclone rebuilding: "YANGON - MYANMAR'S military government on Monday urged the world to donate building supplies rather than food to help victims of the cyclone that devastated the country two months ago."

Fond du Lac Reporter

Fond du Lac Reporter: "Salvation came to Fond du Lac wearing athletes shoes Tuesday night.

Members of the Green Bay Packers brought their tailgate tour to the city to benefit the Salvation Army's flood-depleted coffers.

Unfortunately, ticket sales fell short of the goal.

'We had hoped to sell about 650 tickets, but the actual number was around 200,' said Denise Shaffer, community development coordinator for Fond du Lac's Salvation Army.

Despite lackluster fundraising, Shafer said the non-profit took advantage of a good thing and decided to turn it into a community event. For $25, ticket holders were treated to an evening with Packer running back Brandon Jackson, wide receiver James Jones and guard/center Jason Spitz. Autographs, a question-and-answer session, food and prizes were meted out."

Alliant to offer grants for nonprofits hit by floods | GazetteOnline.com - Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

Alliant to offer grants for nonprofits hit by floods | GazetteOnline.com - Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: "Alliant to offer grants for nonprofits hit by floods
The Gazette
A new grant program set up by Alliant Energy Foundation will offer non-profit groups and programs up to $20,000 to help recover from the recent floods.

The charitable foundation of Madison, Wis.-based Alliant Energy allocated $1 million for the new Rebuilding Our Communities Grant Program."

Group gives cleaning supplies to flood victims | Ocala.com | Star-Banner | Ocala, FL

Group gives cleaning supplies to flood victims | Ocala.com | Star-Banner | Ocala, FL: "The organizers of the Disaster Buckets project have seen how hard it is to rebuild life after a flood, and are collecting buckets full of cleaning supplies to offer help and hope to people affected by last month's flooding.

Volunteers for Compassionate Alliance will drive the Disaster Buckets to Burlington, Iowa, and Clarksville, Mo., in semi-trucks. The first truck will depart on July 26, and the volunteers hope it will contain around 1,500 buckets."

Myanmar: UN appeals for $482 million for cyclone recovery

Myanmar: UN appeals for $482 million for cyclone recovery: "0 July 2008 – The United Nations has appealed for a total of $482 million to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis which devastated large areas of Myanmar in early May, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and severely affecting an estimated 2.4 million people."