Pembrokeshire people are being urged to respond to the recent cyclone disaster in Myanmar by UK Relief and Development Agency, Tearfund. "Recent reports show up to 41,000 people are now believed to be missing following Saturday's cyclone, with the death toll reaching 22,000 - and expected to rise further as remote areas are reached," said Tearfund's media officer for Pembrokeshire, Sharron Hardwick. Tearfund, whose partners are situated in disaster stricken Myanmar, have made suggestions of how Pembrokeshire people can respond to the horrific devastation. Tearfund's partners in Maynmar include World Concern Mynamar and the Myanmar Baptist Convention. "We are making an immediate assessment of the areas of need and planning a swift response,' commented Tearfund's head of region for Asia, Sudarshan Sathianathan. "The Baptist Convention will be one of our primary routes for response," he added. "There are no government permissions needed to work through local church and there is strong local capacity - with 2,400 local churches linked to the Baptist convention." In the Delta region of the country - home to an estimated 25 million people - it's believed up to 90 per cent of homes have been destroyed. "When disaster strikes, it's important to act swiftly. I urge the people of Pembrokeshire to pray and give financial support to those affected. Our input is crucial in supporting Tearfund's partners as they respond appropriately to the devastation," said Sharron Hardwick Tearfund themselves are releasing £150,000 to enable their partners in Burma (Myanmar) to assess immediate relief needs, but events are rapidly changing and they are making every effort to keep people up to date with the current status by making regular updates on their web site. Please visit http://www.tearfund.org">www.tearfund.org for the latest information. To support Tearfund's partners in Myanmar as they mobilise local churches to provide a swift response, please give on line at http://www.tearfund.org/Giving/">www.tearfund.org/Giving/ Give+Now/Disasters.htm or contact Tearfund Supporter Enquiries team on 0845 355 8355 (callers within the UK, charged at local rates)
