AFP: UN envoy sees 'good signs' from Myanmar at end of mission

AFP: UN envoy sees 'good signs' from Myanmar at end of mission: "YANGON (AFP) — The new UN human rights envoy for Myanmar said Thursday he had received 'good signs' that the ruling junta accepted the need for his mandate to investigate widespread claims of abuses in the country."

The Saratogian - Giving back what the floods washed away

The Saratogian - Giving back what the floods washed away: "SARATOGA SPRINGS - Local people who want to help families recently flooded out of their homes in Iowa are encouraged to drop off school supplies at the Saratoga Springs Public Library."

FEMA won't help nonprofits as much with deductibles in future storms - New Orleans Local & Small Business News - NOLA.com

FEMA won't help nonprofits as much with deductibles in future storms - New Orleans Local & Small Business News - NOLA.com: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency says that local governments, schools and hospitals in Louisiana won't get as much help from the government in paying for pricey deductibles on insurance policies in future storms as they did during Hurricane Katrina.

In a May 29 memo to disaster assistance directors around the country, FEMA says that it will reduce payment of a future insurance deductible in a storm by whatever amount of money it paid toward an insurance deductible after Katrina or Rita."

Scoop: Aid Delivery In Myanmar Still A Challenge, UN Says

Scoop: Aid Delivery In Myanmar Still A Challenge, UN Says: "Aid Delivery In Burma/Myanmar Still A Challenge, United Nations Says

5 August 2008 - Three months after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, delivery of sufficient relief and early recovery assistance remains a challenge, particularly in hard-to-reach areas of the affected Ayeyarwady Delta, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

'We have seen significant progress being made in the affected areas as a result of the coordinated efforts of local and international humanitarian actors. However, much more urgently needs to be done in remote areas where affected communities are still living in dire conditions,' the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, Daniel Baker, said today."

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Food shortages "significant" | Food Security Natural Disasters | News Item

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Food shortages "significant" | Food Security Natural Disasters | News Item: "- Three months after Cyclone Nargis hit southern Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of people are still not back on their feet."

Months after Myanmar cyclone, one million yet to receive help, aid worker says | ajc.com

Months after Myanmar cyclone, one million yet to receive help, aid worker says | ajc.com: "But one thing that did strike me was that there are some areas of the [Irrawaddy River] delta that have not received aid after three months,' he said.

The flow of help has been hindered because the river delta is huge and most travel is by water.

Of the 2.5 million people affected, an estimated 1 million have yet to receive help, he said."

Reuters AlertNet - Stories of hope and hardship from Myanmar

Reuters AlertNet - Stories of hope and hardship from Myanmar: "PORTLAND, ORE. - July 31, 2008) An Oregon doctor says Myanmar families still struggle to survive weeks after a deadly cyclone displaced more than 1 million people.

Dr. Wendy Dyment, a senior relief expert with Medical Teams International who recently returned from the region, saw critical shortages of medicines, food and clothing. 'Communities are far from returning to normal. Cooking utensils, soap, mosquito nets and fishing materials—all essential items to help them recover—are in short supply.'"

Cyclone-hit Myanmar struggling to find its feet | International | Reuters

Cyclone-hit Myanmar struggling to find its feet | International | Reuters: "BANGKOK (Reuters) - Three months after Cyclone Nargis slammed into army-run Myanmar, people in the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta are still in dire need of food and clean water, hampering efforts to rebuild their lives, aid agencies say."

Milpitas-based foundation aids Iowa, Myanmar disaster victims - The Milpitas Post Online

Milpitas-based foundation aids Iowa, Myanmar disaster victims - The Milpitas Post Online: "The Tzu Chi Foundation, a Milpitas-based charity and relief organization, recently provided assistance to residents impacted by the flooding in the Midwest. Month-long major rainstorms and the cresting of the Mississippi River caused severe flooding in several states. Thousands of homes were submerged in the record flooding with residents displaced.

Relief efforts by Tzu Chi for flood victims started in May. Earlier this month, 309 families in Palo, Iowa received Tzu Chi disaster financial assistance in the form of debit cards, totaling more than $155,000."

The Journal Register (Medina, NY) - RED CROSS: Disaster fund depleted

The Journal Register (Medina, NY) - RED CROSS: Disaster fund depleted: "he American Red Cross in Orleans County is facing a desperate need since their disaster fund hit rock bottom this week, said interim executive director Diana Fulcomer.

The agency has responded to three house fires since its fiscal budget year began July 1, and Fulcomer is worried that when the next fire strikes, finding the funds will be difficult.

“We need the support of our community,” she said. “Every bit will help.”"

Epoch Times - Burma Relief Still Needed

Epoch Times - Burma Relief Still Needed: "Two months after the worst storm in its history obliterated Myanmar’s (Burma) coastal regions leaving over two million Burmese homeless, the Australian Burmese community is calling on fellow Australians to support ongoing reconstruction efforts."

News: Businesses and nonprofits help Hurricane Dolly victims | businesses, dolly, hurricane : TheMonitor.com

News: Businesses and nonprofits help Hurricane Dolly victims | businesses, dolly, hurricane : TheMonitor.com: "All across the Rio Grande Valley, businesses and relief agencies spent Friday providing food, ice, water and other necessities to victims of Hurricane Dolly and to those helping them.

Here are some of the efforts that were under way Friday:"

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

37 minutes ago

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."