FACTBOX-Aid offers pour in for cyclone-ravaged Myanmar

May 8 (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta gave the U.S. military permission to fly in relief supplies for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, Thai Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit told Reuters on Thursday.

Governments and relief agencies around the world have promised almost $40 million worth of aid and technical support to Myanmar, six days after Cyclone Nargis ripped through the Irrawaddy Delta leaving up to 100,000 people feared dead.

The following includes some of the aid offers to date:

NGO/IGO CONTRIBUTIONS

UNITED NATIONS: The U.N. has promised to release a minimum of $10 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund and is launching a "flash appeal" to raise much more money for Myanmar on Friday. A five-member U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination team assembled in Bangkok. UNICEF has sent assessment teams to three of the five disaster-hit areas.

RED CROSS: About 200,000 Swiss francs ($189,000) released by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' emergency disaster fund. Relief workers are distributing drinking water, clothing, food, plastic tarpaulins and hygiene kits.

-- Myanmar Red Cross: Distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to help prevent malaria and water purification tablets. The government said it would allocate 5 billion kyats ($4.5 million) for relief and resettlement work.

-- American Red Cross: $100,000 in funds and supplies.

WORLD VISION, AUSTRALIA: The Christian relief group pledged A$3 million ($2.8 million) for first month of relief operations. About 25 medical, health and hygiene specialists to be sent to boost efforts of 600 permanent staff in Myanmar.

STATE CONTRIBUTIONS

FRANCE: 200,000 euros (around $320,000) in aid

SPAIN: 500,000 euros (around $775,000) to the World Food Programme for Myanmar.

UNITED KINGDOM: Up to 5 million pounds (around $10 million) for emergency relief efforts from Department of International Development. Sending emergency field team.

AUSTRALIA: Initial A$3 million ($2.8 million) in emergency aid, with A$1 million of that to go to aid agencies to help provide shelter, water purification and food in Myanmar.

NEW ZEALAND: NZ$1.5 million (about $1.1 million) from government for distribution via aid agencies/United Nations.

INDONESIA: $1 million, and sending food, medicine and other humanitarian aid.

GREECE: Greece vows to send $300,000 in financial assistance, and plane carrying aid.

CHINA: $500,000 in cash; materials including tents, blankets and biscuits worth a further $500,000.

INDIA: Two naval ships loaded with food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines sent to Yangon. Two transport aircraft laden with supplies to leave for Myanmar.

JAPAN: 28 million yen ($267,570) worth of emergency aid in (tents, power generators and other supplies).

THAILAND: Transport plane loaded with food and medicine was sent to Yangon.

SINGAPORE: $200,000 in humanitarian assistance; offers to send rescue and medical teams.

SOUTH KOREA: $100,000 in aid and material, such as tents and medicine, in an initial package.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Pledged 2 million euros ($3 million) for fast-track humanitarian aid.

UNITED STATES: Committed $3 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development, on top of $250,000 immediate emergency aid. Treasury to expedite approvals for aid groups to provide money/services to the Myanmar government, under U.S. sanctions since 2003.

CANADA: Some C$2 million ($1.98 million) to support organisations including the United Nations, International Red Cross and the World Food Programme.

GERMANY: One million euros (around $1.55 mln) to German aid organisations to provide shelter, drinking water, household utensils and mosquito nets.

BANGLADESH: Sending plane-load of potatoes, clothes, medicines, water purifying tablets and oral saline, and a five-member military team to aid relief rescue operations.

Source: Reuters

(Compiled by Gillian Murdoch, Singapore Editorial Reference Unit and Bangkok newsroom; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
(Source-http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP64081.htm)