HONOLULU, HAWAII - The American Red Cross is supporting relief efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Myanmar Red Cross, and others to provide assistance to those in need.

The American Red Cross and its partners in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are sending plane loads of relief supplies into the country. These include tarps for shelter, mosquito nets for malaria prevention and large water purification units to produce clean water. Volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross are working around the clock and in difficult conditions to distribute relief items, including tarpaulins, pots, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and soap, to those in need. Many of these items have been provided by the American Red Cross and International Federation.

So far, the American Red Cross has committed a total of $1.5 million in financial support and relief supplies to the operation. This includes a $1 million contribution from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. These funds will be used to support relief operations through the procurement and transportation of emergency supplies to help those affected by the disaster. Already, more than 16 plane loads of supplies from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have landed in Yangon, carrying sheltering materials, mosquito nets, water purification systems and other emergency supplies.

This includes three plane loads of goods from the American Red Cross, providing more than 18,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria prevention and 3,500 tarps for shelter. In total, the American Red Cross is mobilizing 10,000 tarps, 20,000 mosquito nets, 3,800 kitchen sets, 30,000 water containers and 15,000 hygiene kits from its warehouses stocks in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. The American Red Cross has committed an initial contribution of $1.5 million in relief supplies and financial resources to help survivors following this cyclone and is prepared to send in additional resources and supplies in the coming days. The Red Cross has established a relief pipeline into Myanmar, and more than 27,000 volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross are distributing the bulk of these supplies. The Red Cross is establishing a series of regional hubs in the affected area that will be staffed by trained, local Red Cross volunteers.

Every day people around the world are suffering from countless crises, like the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China.

You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Please call 1-800-RED CROSS or 739-8109 here in Hawaii. Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to the Hawaii State Chapter at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If donors wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation.