“EXCUSE me,” a voice interrupts through the office chatter, “can you give blood on Friday?” An hour or so later someone else stops by to ask about donating clothes.

It is a pattern that is being repeated in communities and offices throughout Yangon and Myanmar. Since cyclone Nargis struck on May 2 and news spread of the devastation, the philanthropic spirit among ordinary people has flourished.

While those out of country can donate money to a plethora of INGOs, there are many things local people can do to help.

According to INGOs The Myanmar Times spoke to, the simplest form of assistance you can give is food, clothing and basic household supplies to those affected. “People should first buy clothes for children, that is the first priority. Number two is essential items for women like sanitary towels. Utensils for cooking are also needed.

Supplying water, for individual donors, is difficult so we suggest letting the organisations provide that. But dry food will always be welcomed,” said one INGO source.

Accessing those affected can be difficult for normal people. But refugees are now being transferred from the hardest-hit areas to three base camps; one in Maubin (90 minutes from Yangon), Myaungmya (three and a half hours from Yangon) and Wakema (two hours from Yangon).

By helping to provide for these established camps, people can free up the government and NGOs to work in the more difficult-to-access areas, our source said.

“If the camps are taken care of by philanthropic people, the amount of money and food the government can save can be sent instead to the villages. For individuals, it’s very difficult to go to the villages and help but they can go to these camps – so people can go and take whatever they have. Noodles, rice, clothes, cash – go and give them to the camps.”

“This happened after the tsunami in Thailand, all the people came to the camps in the first two weeks and gave things that people need. That helps the NGOs to save money which can later be used for long-term problems.”

Many churches and monasteries are involved in organising supplies and shelter for those displaced by Nargis.

People based in Yangon don’t even necessarily need to go to camps to do something to help. Hlaing Tharyar, South Dagon and Dalah townships all suffered extensive damage, while Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Twante and Kyauktan in Yangon Division also require assistance.

As villagers work to re-build their homes themselves, cash can give them flexibility of choice to decide what is most essential to buy. And, as our INGO source said, “In most areas it is an open market – the marketPeople show

will work anywhere. Business-men will take this opportunity, they will come to Yangon and buy supplies to sell in their village.”

Although a lot of NGOs aren’t equipped to take volunteers, if you have particular skills that might be needed, you think might be asking NGOs directly is a great way of getting involved. Particularly in demand are people with medical training, for field work, or English skills to help with administration.

As many living in the delta are likely to be suffering from trauma, local monks, priests and teachers can often be helpful in offering stability and reassurance to those who are traumatised.

Merlin, a UK-based medical NGO, is seeking medically trained volunteers, including doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers, for relief efforts in the Labutta area.

Five doctors from Yangon were sent to the delta on May 12 and Dr Sean Keogh from the organisation said Merlin would like more volunteers to come forward. But he said there are other ways people can help INGOs like Merlin.

“If anyone wants to donate money to help the relief effort that would also be welcomed. And if anyone has a truck they can spare temporarily, that would be incredibly useful for us,” Dr Keogh said.

Businesses are also lending a hand where they can.

Merlin, with the help of local company Pandal Cruises, has found a unique way to overcome the problem of transporting staff and goods to the delta while providing shelter and a clean surgical environment.

Pandal Cruises has provided Merlin with the use of an 80-foot boat, which they will transform into a floating hospital for use in the badly hit area of Labutta.

“Once we get the boat to Labutta we’ll turn it into a medical clinic,” said Merlin’s maritime operation coordinator, Mark Howard. “On this boat we’ve got access to clean water and adequate power supply, which means the doctors can do minor surgical operations in ideal clinical conditions.”

“The boat will also serve as a bit of a base. For the moment, it will become a sort of operational headquarters for Merlin.”

But diesel supply is also an issue for INGOs.

“Everything is dependent on us getting adequate diesel supplies,” Dr Keogh said. “If anyone can help us out with that it would also make a difference.”

Merlin is also seeking eight administration staff with good English skills and some computer knowledge.

The UN World Food Program is also seeking young, educated Myanmar people for work in the cyclone-hit areas.

“The WFP urgently requires young and energetic people to help us for assessments and collecting information in the delta area,” a WFP spokesperson informed The Myanmar Times by email.

The work would be for between one and two months and would involve volunteers staying overnight in the field.

Can you help?

Merlin – seeking medical volunteers, administration staff and general donations

# No 326 Pyay Road, Sanchaung township, Yangon.
(951) 511 675 or (951) 537 321 (ext 113)
merlinmyr@merlin.org.mm

UN World Food Program – seeking volunteers for field work
United Nations World Food Program

UNDP Building
# No 6 Natmauk Road, Tarmwe township, Yangon.