Burma Cross
May 9, 2008
THE CANADIAN RED CROSS IS COLLECTING DONATIONS TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF LAST WEEKEND'S VICIOUS CYCLONE IN BURMA. THE RED CROSS BRANCH IN KINGSTON SAYS CASH DONATIONS ARE PREFERRED -- AND THEY WILL USE THAT MONEY TO PURCHASE RELIEF SUPPLIES AND FOOD. TENS OF THOUSANDS DIED, AND MANY MORE HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS AFTER SATURDAY'S CYCLONE BATTERED THE COUNTRY WITH PUNISHING WIND AND RAIN. IT'S STILL A CHALLENGE TO GET THE MILITARY-RULED COUNTRY TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL AID ... BUT THE RED CROSS SAYS THE SUPPORT IS BADLY NEEDED. - MICHELLE MIATELLO, RED CROSS: "WE COULDN'T DO CERTAINLY WHAT WE DO WITHOUT SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM OUR DONORS. OUR PRIORITIES ARE SHELTER. WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MYNMAR RESIDENTS WHO ARE SLEEPING IN PAGOTAS AND TEMPLES OUT IN THE OPEN. SO SHELTER IS A PRIORITY AND THE OTHER PRIORITY FOR US RIGHT NOW IS CLEAN DRINKING WATER.") IN RECENT YEARS, THE RED CROSS HAS COLLECTED LOCAL DONATIONS TO AID VICTIMS OF MANY DISASTERS -- LIKE HURRICANE KATRINA AND THE TSUNAMI IN INDONESIA.
