help relief efforts in myanmar

Earlier this month, Cyclone Nargis devastated the country of Myanmar (Burma). Nearly 150,000 people are dead or missing, and the United Nations reports that 1 million people have been left homeless.

Oxfam is working hard to provide relief to these people.

With a crew of 29 staffers and 62 volunteers, Oxfam’s local partner, Metta, has been rushing life-saving aid to more than 68,000 survivors of the devastating cyclone that slammed into Myanmar 10 days ago.

While international aid agencies wait for visas to enter the country so they can begin their emergency operations, five of Oxfam’s local partners are spending more than $100,000 a day on relief supplies—including fuel for search and rescue missions, food, and medicine—for distribution to displaced people. One of the locations is so remote—the island of Pyin Kha Yai—that the nearest community is a 10-hour boat ride away. Everything on that island has been destroyed.

“Experience has shown us that the most effective and timely response can be where local organizations are on the ground and ready to mobilize,” says Mike Delaney, Oxfam America’s director of humanitarian response. “In Myanmar, in the wake of this immense tradgedy, it is the people themselves, facing incredible odds, that have risen to the challenge and are helping to save the most vulnerable.”

Please contribute what you can to Oxfam's relief efforts today to help those in dire need. Every little bit counts and will go further than you think. It is important right now that we save as many lives as we can.

bush's "plan b" on darfur: how you can help

Last month, the White House announced plans that would impose sanctions on the Sudanese government if they failed to allow U.N. peacekeeping forces to be deployed into the genocide-torn Darfur region of that country.

"I made clear that the time for promises is over," President Bush said at a press conference. He later said that the sanctions would cut the Sudanese government off of financial aid from the United States while calling the world's attention to their crimes.

According to Colleen Connors of the Save Darfur Coalition, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend "a meeting about Darfur with top officials from the U.S., China, France and other key nations" this coming Monday.

The Bush administration took a desperately-needed first step last month when it announced its "Plan B" sanctions against the Sudanese government. Now Secretary Rice must use this meeting with French, Chinese and other leaders to increase the pressure on Sudanese President Bashir.

This kind of opportunity may only come along once. The United States, China and France must seize this chance to lead.

The people of Darfur have waited more than four years for world leaders to make a concerted effort to end the violence. Secretary Rice must make sure Monday's meeting in Paris marks the beginning of sustained, unified world diplomacy.

You can take action to help this cause by sending a note to Secretary Rice asking her "to use this opportunity to convince China and France to join forces with the U.S. on Darfur."

It's time for the world to wake up and we can help to make it happen. Please act now.