Salem-News.com Disaster articles Page 23

Earthquake in China Leaves Thousands Dead, Some Buried (VIDEO)

China's state news agency estimates that 7,651 people have died from injuries suffered in the earthquake.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As many as 5,000 people were killed in China today during a major earthquake. The disaster that jolted southwestern China on Monday measured a magnitude of 7.8.

In China's Sichuan province alone, officials report an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 victims reported the Xinhua news agency said. The military was also dispatched to quake-hit areas.

UN Increases Food Aid for Cyclone-Stricken Myanmar

Cyclone Nargis washed away the homes of an estimated 1 million people.

(GENEVA) - The UN World Food Programme today said its food aid has reached more than 27,000 people in the areas of the Irrawaddy delta hit hardest by Cyclone Nargis, which left a path of death and destruction after striking Myanmar last week.

In an encouraging development, 28 tons of high-energy biscuits which arrived in Yangon on Friday are enough to feed 95,000 with first rations.

Mercy Corps` Top European Official Heads to Myanmar

Agency mobilizes team to assess needs and begin on-the-ground response, humanitarian access remains challenging.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The global relief and development agency Mercy Corps is sending its top European official to Myanmar, and hopes to have several other members of an emergency-response team in the country in the coming week. Mervyn Lee, executive director of Mercy Corps Europe, is expected to arrive early next week.

Once on the ground, Mercy Corps staff will work with partner agencies to help assess needs and explore opportunities to ease suffering in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

Help Could be En Route to Burma

UN appeals for $187 million to aid Myanmar cyclone victims.

(GENEVA) - The United Nations today appealed for $187 million to help provide humanitarian relief to some 1.5 million people severely affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar for the next six months.

Launching the Flash Appeal in New York on behalf of 10 UN agencies and 9 non-governmental organizations, the UN’s top relief official emphasized that “the extent of the humanitarian catastrophe is enormous.”

UN Presses Myanmar to Facilitate Aid Delivery to Cyclone Victims

The UN World Food Programme has sent four aircraft loaded with critically needed food aid, including 45 metric tons of high energy biscuits, and other relief items.

(RANGOON) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations humanitarian official today urged Myanmar authorities to facilitate the delivery of aid in the wake of the deadly cyclone that wreaked death and destruction in the country several days ago.

The Government in Myanmar has confirmed that over 22,000 people have died, and more than 41,000 people are missing, following Cyclone Nargis which struck the South-East Asian nation from May 2nd through 3rd. Initial estimates suggest that up to 1 million people are currently homeless, and many more require assistance.

Deadly Cyclone Batters Myanmar, UN Offers to Help

Thousands have reportedly been killed in the country formerly known as Burma, and the numbers in need of assistance are expected to be sizable.

(YANGON, Myanmar) - The United Nations has offered its assistance to Myanmar authorities in responding to the deadly cyclone which struck the South-East Asian nation on Friday, leaving death and widespread devastation in its wake.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Cyclone Nargis made landfall in the Irrawaddy delta region, some 250 kilometers southwest of Yangon around 4:00 PM on May 2nd.