A humanitarian cargo plane, organised by the European Union, has landed in Rangoon in response to the devastating earthquake emergency in Myanmar. On board are the first 55 tonnes of aid destined for the hardest hit communities, which will be distributed in the next few hours by Cesvi, an NGO that has been present in the area for over 20 years. In the coming days, a second cargo of supplies is scheduled to arrive, with a further 17 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid.
Welcoming the arrival of the cargo together with Paolo Felice, Head of Mission in Myanmar Cesvi, were Patrick Sandoval Nichols, Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Delegation in Myanmar and the Italian Ambassador Nicolò Tassoni Estense di Castelvecchio, testifying to a commitment and concrete support that is now translating into tangible aid.
Cesvi, which has been active since the first days after the earthquake to bring assistance to displaced families, will distribute the aid to the most affected populations, particularly in the regions of Sagaing and southern Shan. The aid consists of 1,000 family tents, 1,600 kits to repair emergency shelters, 1,600 tarpaulins to protect against rain, 1,600 kitchen sets, 1,000 solar lamps, 1,000 solar torches and 96,000 water purification tablets.
The latest estimates, according to the NGO, speak of more than 3,600 dead and more than 5,000 injured, about 70,000 newly displaced persons, and 17 million people affected throughout the country. "To make everything even more difficult," explains Cesvi, "in recent days there has been rain, wind and heavy storms. The makeshift shelters have been swept away, while the rainfall has caused new collapses in already damaged buildings. The forecasts are not encouraging: more days of heavy rain and strong winds are expected, with a devastating impact especially for those forced to live on the streets'.
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