Conditions in Burma likely to deteriorate, if more aid is not brought in

(15 May, 2008) Almost two weeks ago, a deadly cyclone struck Myanmar (Burma) killing tens of thousands of people. In emergencies children are hit hardest hit, and this disaster is no different. It is believed that around 40 per cent of the dead and missing are children.

We, Save the Children, meeting today in Seoul, South Korea, are deeply concerned about the thousands of lives that are at risk if more aid does not reach the most vulnerable. We call for an effective and timely response to the urgent and desperate needs of large numbers of affected people.

To date Save the Children has been able to respond using local supplies but it has become obvious that we need significant additional aid in the country.

Speaking in Seoul at Save the Children's Annual Meeting Peter Woicke, incoming Chairman of the International Save the Children Alliance said: "Our staff in Burma are doing lifesaving work, but we could reach more children and families if we had the supplies that they so desperately need. Indeed, if aid continues to be restricted, the condition for thousands of children will rapidly deteriorate. Alarmingly, food prices have already risen, which means that hunger might become a problem for some families. Public health conditions could also get worse as people live close together in shelters and water supplies remain limited. Without immediate and widescale assistance, the situation for children looks likely to get worse before it improves."

Save the Children has worked in Myanmar for 13 years and is working in all of the worst-affected areas. To date we have reached more than 115,000 people, including around 33,000 children, with food, water, oral-rehydration solution and shelter materials, but we could reach many more. This is a race against time and the priority has to be to help the survivors.

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact the Save the Children UK Press Office on +44 (0)20 7012 6841, or out of hours contact the on-call press officer on +44 (0)7831 650 409

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