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25% of the 52 million people living in Burma do so in extreme poverty - on less than $1.00 income per day. With this in mind, Voices for Burma, an independent international NGO, believes that responsible tourism can make a difference. We believe that responsible tourism, if undertaken correctly, can be used as a tool to promote economic assistance to the people in Burma, as well as a means to raise awareness of the many issues that Burma faces.
Cyclone Nargis causes widespread devastation
* May 2/3 Tropical Cyclone Nargis, packing winds of up to 190km per hour, strikes the low-lying Irrawaddy delta, the rice-bowl of Burma, and later hits Rangoon, its largest city. A tidal surge - nearly 5 metres high - floods the delta and as far as 35km inland. Rangoon is left without power as electricity poles and trees are uprooted by the storm.
* To date, at least 100,000 dead, and the UN has declared that up to 2 million people, deprived of aid for a week are at risk of death.
* Early in the crisis, junta called for outside aid assistance
* Friday 9th May, junta declared they wanted aid, but no foreign experts. The same day they seized two planefuls of aid from UN World Food Programme, causing the UN to suspend further flights.
* Saturday 10th May, junta continued with the Referendum on the draft Constit*ution
* Aid agencies are still awaiting visas and warehouses full of aid are at the ready in neighbouring countries.
Read more on BBC News coverage on Cyclone Nargis.
What you can do
The best thing you can do to help the people of Burma is to make a donation. The following NGOs and appeals are currently collecting money for disaster relief for Cyclone Nargis victims:
* Medecins San Frontieres (UK-NL)
* Australian Appeal from Our Community - list of 10 Australian-based NGOs
Or check with your favourite NGO
Traveller's Warning:
If you are considering travelling to Burma, please seek advice from your country's Foreign Affairs department. The political situation is unpredictable due to the cyclone and referendum. Please note that the junta isn't giving out visas at present, and in the event when they start, VFB believe that first priority should be given to trained humanitarian workers.