Singapore Red Cross expands Typhoon Yagi, monsoon aid efforts to Myanmar with S$50,000 contribution

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is expanding its aid efforts for communities affected by Typhoon Yagi and the southwest monsoon to include Myanmar.

"This comes as part of a larger, region-wide effort to assist communities severely impacted across Southeast Asia", it said in a media release on Friday (Sep 20).

At least 293 people in Myanmar have been killed by Typhoon Yagi, with state media reporting that nearly 270,000ha of rice paddies and other crops had been destroyed by floods.

The United Nations has also warned that as many as 630,000 people could be in need of assistance in Myanmar in the wake of the typhoon. The damage led the junta to issue a rare appeal for foreign aid last weekend.

The floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi have affected nearly 6 million children across Southeast Asia, the UN said on Sep 18.

The SRC will contribute S$50,000 (US$38,750) to support disaster relief efforts in Myanmar, working closely with the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

"This will fund the distribution of food, clean water, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to the communities hardest hit by the recent calamities," it said.

"Due to the urgent need for safe drinking water, SRC will also be sending water filters in the coming weeks."

The support for Myanmar comes after SRC's earlier commitments of S$50,000 each towards humanitarian aid for Laos and Vietnam.

The SRC said that its public fundraising appeal will now support relief and recovery efforts in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

SRC OPERATIONS IN LAOS AND VIETNAM

SRC’s three-person response team arrived in Laos on Sep 16 to provide support in relief operations and needs assessment.

"The team set foot in the province of Luang Namtha, where 40,000 people across two districts are in urgent need of assistance, and conducted needs assessment and relief activities in Thong Kua Village and Tavanh Village in the Luang Namtha province," SRC said.

In Thong Kua Village, the team distributed household kits containing blankets, mosquito nets and other household items.

They also went to Tavanh Village to demonstrate the use of water filters to the villagers and Lao Red Cross volunteers.

The team will remain in Laos until Sep 24.

"If additional support is required, SRC is prepared to deploy further teams to assist in recovery efforts."

The SRC also delivered 50 water filters to Laos through the Singapore Armed Forces. The filters will enhance communities' access to clean drinking water.

In October, the SRC will send another three-person team to Vietnam to support its early recovery efforts.

Plans are also underway to send a team to Yangon, where discussions will centre on enhancing joint efforts for sustained relief and recovery operations in Myanmar, with a focus on addressing both urgent and ongoing needs in the hardest hit communities, SRC said.

Benjamin William, SRC CEO and secretary general, said the "devastating impact" of Typhoon Yagi was compounded by the southwest monsoon, triggering one of Southeast Asia's most severe climate disasters. 

"The loss of lives, including children and the elderly, and the mass displacement of communities has caused much devastation and heartbreak. In times of crisis, solidarity is our greatest strength."

Mr William said that the SRC is working with its counterparts across Southeast Asia to share resources, and that it stands ready to provide additional assistance.

"We hope the people of Singapore will rally behind our humanitarian efforts, and contribute generously to our fundraising appeal.”

The Singapore Red Cross' public appeal for donations for its Southeast Asia floods response started on Sep 13 and will run until Oct 31.

Members of the public can donate though credit card on the SRC's website or on Giving.sg.

Other methods of donation, including PayNow, cheque, donating in person or fundraising are also available.