Singapore Red Cross launches public fundraising appeal for Myanmar flood victims

Singapore Red Cross (SRC) on Tuesday launched a month-long appeal for funds to aid communities affected by widespread floods in Myanmar.

SRC's appeal for funds came a week after it donated 100,000 U.S. dollars' worth of relief supplies, including food, medicine, blankets, clean drinking water and hygiene kits, for Myanmar flood victims. Singapore government pledged 100,000 U.S. dollars to kickstart the public appeal on Aug. 7.

SRC said an advance team has visited flood-hit areas such as Nyuang Tone Township in the Ayeryarwaddy Region and the Tike Kyi Township in the Yangon Region over a three-day trip. The team joined Myanmar Red Cross on boat to evacuate stranded villagers.

"It is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people who are affected immediately, especially when many of the affected communities are in areas made inaccessible by the floods," said SRC's Secretary General and CEO Benjamin William.

"What we can expect from the worsening flash flood situation is that the number of people affected will increase exponentially," added William.

SRC has plans to deploy medical relief to Myanmar in anticipation of the spike in medical needs of the local community. William said that SRC foresaw the need to provide medical attention as the incidence of waterborne diseases and medical conditions such as diarrhoea and fever were expected to rise.

The flood, triggered by heavy rainfall since June, has affected 13 regions and states in Myanmar, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads. Endi