Fundraising Appeal for Earthquake Victims in Myanmar and Thailand

Domestic aid organizations fear thousands of victims after the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Gerald Schöpfer, President of the Austrian Red Cross, called for support: "With this magnitude of earthquake, unfortunately, numerous deaths and injuries are to be expected, the need in the region is great. People are left with nothing and urgently need our help." "Every minute counts now," said Reinhard Hundsmüller, Federal Managing Director of the Samaritan Association.

Aid Organizations Fear Thousands of Earthquake Victims

The earthquake occurred in central Myanmar, about 50 kilometers east of the city of Monywa. According to the Red Cross, with this magnitude of earthquake, severe damage to buildings and infrastructure and several thousand fatalities are to be expected. Around six million people are affected by the disaster's impact. Severe aftershocks are to be expected.

"It's about rapid medical care, safe emergency shelters, and the distribution of essential goods," said Hundsmüller. The Samaritan Association's disaster relief unit is ready for deployment in the event of an international request.

Myanmar Among the Poorest Countries in the World

"Our project partners on site, the Salesians of Don Bosco, operate several street children, school, and training centers in Myanmar. One of these houses, where 120 children aged between twelve and 17 live and go to school, is located only about 60 kilometers east of the epicenter near Sagaing, in the city of Anisakan," reported Reinhard Heiserer, Managing Director of the Austrian development organization Jugend Eine Welt. "Precisely because Myanmar is among the poorest countries in the world, people there are almost defenseless against natural disasters like this earthquake. More than a third live at or below the poverty line."

CARE Austria is also preparing relief measures with local partner organizations. Particularly affected places include the city of Mandalay: "Buildings collapsed, infrastructure was massively damaged, and millions of people are affected," thousands of deaths are feared. "Many people have lost their homes and are left with nothing. Women and children are particularly vulnerable in disasters," said Managing Director Andrea Barschdorf-Hager.

Disaster in Densely Populated Area

"The affected area in Myanmar is very densely populated and is likely to be significantly affected by an earthquake of this magnitude. Our staff in Yangon felt the earthquake as did our staff in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos," described the head of World Vision Myanmar, Kyi Minn. World Vision Austria has been active in the region for years, currently directly in Tada-U. Staff reported severe damage.

The severely affected regions of Sagaing and Mandalay had previously already suffered greatly from armed conflicts, displacement, and natural disasters. "The catastrophe hits people who have already lost everything. The earthquake exacerbates the suffering in a country that has been marked by violence, insecurity, and displacement for years," said Andreas Knapp, Secretary General for International Programs of Caritas Austria.

How to Help - Overview of Donation Accounts

Austrian Red Cross
IBAN: AT57 2011 1400 1440 0144 - BIC: GIBAATWWXXX - Erste Bank: BLZ 20.111 - Password: Earthquake Southeast Asia; https://wir.roteskreuz.at/beben-myanmar-thailand

Workers' Samaritan Federation of Austria
IBAN: AT04 1200 0513 8891 4144 - BIC: BKAUATWW - Password: Earthquake - www.samariterbund.net/spende-katastrophenhilfe

Youth One World
Raiffeisen Landesbank Tirol - IBAN: AT66 3600 0000 0002 4000 - BIC: RZTIAT22 - www.jugendeinewelt.at/spenden Password: Earthquake Myanmar

CARE Austria
IBAN: AT77 6000 0000 0123 6000 or online Password: EARTHQUAKE

World Vision Austria
Disaster Relief, Earthquake Myanmar - Erste Bank, IBAN: AT22 2011 1800 8008 1800 https://worldvision.at/katastrophenspende/erdbeben-in-myanmar/

Caritas Austria
IBAN: AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560 - Password: "Disaster Relief Southeast Asia" www.caritas.at/erdbeben-suedostasien

(APA/Red)

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