In late July, severe flooding devastated large areas of Karen State, Burma, leaving thousands homeless and without access to food and clean water. The Emergency Assistance and Relief team (EART) is calling for urgent assistance to deliver aid to families seriously affected by the floods.

Over 33,000 people were displaced by the floods and took shelter in local monasteries and schools. However, lack of communication and access to some remote areas may mean that the number of people severely affected may be higher.

Hundreds of families have had their houses completely or partially destroyed and remain homeless. Rice stocks and rice paddies have been ruined, leaving thousands without access to adequate food supplies for the coming year. Water sources have been contaminated, leaving communities at risk of contracting water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea.


The EART is comprised of Back Pack Health Worker Team, Burma Medical Association, Karen Women’s Organisation, Mae Tao Clinic and others, all of whom have decades of experience of working in the affected areas. Staff are already on the ground, enabling EART to gather information and access the affected populations quickly.

The EART has conducted an initial rapid needs assessment in a number of severely affected areas to ascertain the level of assistance required. Rice rations have been identified as the priority item for families severely affected. Other items required include clean water, clothes, mosquito nets, mats, blankets, cooking utensils and building supplies.

The EART is prioritising the distribution of rice to the families most in need, but funds currently available are extremely limited, leaving many families without any support at all. Further support will be required, as there are also significant concerns about the longer-term impact of the destruction of harvests, which will leave families at risk of chronic malnutrition. Assistance from individuals and organisations is therefore urgently requested.

To make a donation, please make a bank transfer to the EART account and email bphwt@loxinfo.co.th to advise us of the donation.

Bank Name: Bangkok Bank
Branch: Mae Sot
Bank Address: 957, Moo. 2, Mae Pha, Mae
Sot, Tak – 63110, Thailand
Account Name: Warin Prawintnopphakhun and Win Kyaw N/A and Chit Win N/A
Account number savings: 328M0M93042M5
SWIFT Code: BKKBTHBK

As further information is gathered, photos and updates will be posted on:
www.facebook.com/maetaoclinic.org.

Thank you for your assistance at this difficult time.
Sincerely,

Dr Cynthia Maung
Emergency Assistance and Relief Team
Contact person: Moe Naing, bphwt@loxinfo.co.th, +66 (0)8 4492 6140