YMCA's

From Telephone Conversation with Acting National General Secretary, Dr. Sonny Than Nyan

I spoke with Sonny on 12 and 13 May while he was in Bangkok and at the Thai-Burma border. He had come to Bangkok to secure much-needed medical and other supplies to be transported to Yangon by road via the Mae Sot border crossing in North-west Thailand . The YMCA has been taking care of victims who had lost their homes in the Hlaing Thayar township where the Yangon YMCA runs an education programme and an eye clinic; and also some at the Yangon YMCA.

To those YMCAs that had enquired visiting or sending relief work teams, he advises that it might be better to wait some time. Foreigners are 'not allowed' to travel to affected areas yet – you would also have read this in the media. The Myanmar YMCA has been granted permission to enter affected areas.

He will advise when travel into Burma can be arranged - visas from the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok and he will help facilitate that when possible.

The funds through the APAY Appeal will go towards relief in part and the rest for rehabilitation of YMCAs, including the National YMCA Building , and in the Hlaing Thayar community.

With the communication difficulties according to Sonny, e-mails are still not possible from Yangon . He has not been able to furnish much or precise details. He will try to send a brief report. Sonny may be contacted at 95-98033445 or 95-98033446.

The NCY Korea had from the outset discussed with us the possibility of sending in medical teams to support the efforts of the NCY Myanmar in its relief efforts, especially in the Hlaing Thayar township, some 30-45 minutes drive from Yangon . The following is from an e-mail received today.

“We are preparing to send our emergency aid team, in cooperation with the Korea Medical Association, and Daewoo International Corporation, Ltd., to the Yangon YMCA Hlaing Thayar Clinic as soon as possible. We are now still on the process of the fundraising campaign, and we will inform you the exact total amount by the end of the month. The team will consist of medical doctors, nurses, YMCA volunteers. They are expecting to work in such fields of medical service, preventive activities against the epidemics, food and water supply and so on. We are now in the process of application for entry visas. Hopefully we are waiting for positive response from the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul .”

We thank the NCY Korea for their efforts in fund-raising and in mounting this initiative.

We thank the following movements for their support to date, amounting to a total of US$ 25,100, and another provisional US$12,000 pending further plans. Some YMCAs are continuing their fund-raising efforts following their initial commitments.

Argentina YMCA
Australia YMCA
Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong
Japan YMCA
Korea YMCA
Malaysia YMCA
New Zealand YMCA
Singapore YMCAs [2]
Taiwan

YMCAs are invited to participate in a Partners' Coordinating Group for the Myanmar Cyclone Response-Rehabilitation Programme being put together by the Myanmar NCY.

Please drop a line to indicate intention to be part of this PCG that will begin ‘meeting' electronically .

Further to my e-mail yesterday, I wish to inform that Dr. Sonny Than Nyan was in contact with me this morning. He has informed that YMCA colleagues and leaders are safe, though some of their homes have been affected, and are being housed in the Yangon YMCA. Electricity, phone lines and internet connections are still down. He is trying to rent a satellite phone.

The YMCAs in Yangon, particularly the roof and Maubin YMCA in the Irrawaddy Delta area, and the National Council buildings have been damaged, especially windows.

The NCY will furnish further details within the next two days – of damage sustained, and cost estimates for repairs/rehabilitation; and possible relief-rehabilitation programmes among the affected people/communities.

I am sure you would have heard or read of the latest reports of casualties since my e-mail yesterday. BBC News, reported this afternoon, ‘ State media say 10,000 people died in one town alone, and put the number of dead at 15,000. Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut-of.'

In view of the urgency and anticipation of the need for financial support we would like to make an initial appeal for financial support for the rehabilitation of the YMCA buildings in Maubin, Yangon YMCA and the NCY Building in Yangon . We will furnish details as soon as we receive them from Sonny.

We will be sending an initial advance of US$5,000 as soon as it becomes possible to effect a wire remittance.

Kindly indicate your initial pledge of support that should be sent to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs account.

Dr. Sonny Than Nyan
Atg. National General Secretary
National Council of YMCAs of Myanmar

It is with deep sadness that we read and saw the news reports in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar two days ago with winds of about 120mph and which killed more than 350. Thousands are reported to have been made homeless.

We read that Yangon is among the five regions that have been declared disaster zones by the government and that it “is without power and water, and the streets are full of debris from fallen trees and damaged buildings” and that internet and phone connections have been down.

We want to express our solidarity with you and the National Council of YMCAs, and especially YMCAs that may have been affected, in Bago and Yangon .

We pray for those who have lost family members and express our concern those made homeless.

Please keep us informed of the situation and plans the NCY may have for rehabilitation work in the affected areas.