Tuesday May 6, 2008 – The Salvation Army in Myanmar is responding to the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, which has now killed more than 20,000 people and left thousands more homeless.

“We have been active in Myanmar since 1915 and the country receives regular funding from The Salvation Army in Canada,” says Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development. “While our own people and properties have been affected, we continue to serve those in local communities.”

While food storage areas have been affected by rainwater, The Salvation Army is providing cooking meals and distributing it to needy families. At the same time, a Salvation Army team continues to assess the situation while moving forward to minister to those who have been impacted by this tragedy.

Colonel David Bringans, leader of The Salvation Army in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar, says: “Our people in Myanmar are already dispensing rice and other relief to the people. Both of our two children’s homes in Yangon have artesian wells and they are running the generators to pump water from these almost non-stop. The public are therefore able to come to our compounds to receive clean water at this time.”

The Salvation Army began its work in Myanmar (then Burma) in 1915 and now includes over 40 ministry units, children’s homes shared farms, pig loan programs, 60 well projects to deliver clean water, education and tuition programs as well as several health clinics.

Please support The Salvation Army’s relief effort in Myanmar. Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by visiting our website, www.SalvationArmy.ca, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area. Donors should specify their gift to the Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund.