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InterAction News

Burma Humanitarian Aid Update

WASHINGTON, May 10 PRNewswire-USNewswire — InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based humanitarian and development agencies brought its members together on Friday to share information about their activities and plans, conditions in-country, and access, including issuance of visas and permission for international staff to travel internally.

Concern was expressed by members of InterAction that more funds may have to be included in the pending 08 supplemental to adequately finance the U.S. Government's share of relief and rehabilitation costs. InterAction also put members in contact with officials from the UN, who briefed them on what they are hearing from colleagues in the field, diplomatic discussions in New York, and the flash appeal announced yesterday.

Approximately 2,000 national employees of InterAction members are in the field providing assistance to survivors of the cyclone. International staff are directing these efforts from Yangon but as of last night had not been allowed to leave the city. Some international staff have been issued visas for travel to Burma to assist in relief efforts, while others still await authorization by the Burmese government to travel. Discussions are underway with government officials about flights members are prepared to send with emergency supplies, once assured they will be delivered to their staff in the country.

The national employees are, for the most part, being allowed to move through the affected areas. However, their international colleagues are not being allowed to leave Yangon. UN agencies and NGOs have reached 276,000 survivors with assistance of some sort.

For updated information on Burma relief and support efforts please contact Nasserie Carew at ncarew@interaction.org

InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. Our 165 members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life.

SOURCE InterAction

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