Doctors Without Borders

Published purpose

22 November 2010 - Cyclone Giri, a category four cyclonic storm, made landfall in Burma’s Rakhine State on 22 October, causing severe damage to houses and infrastructure in coastal areas. The Government has reported that at least 45 people are dead, while over 100,000 people were made homeless and at least 20,380 houses were completely destroyed, with a total of at least 260,000 people (52,000 households) in need of assistance. Transportation to the area is challenging, as roads and bridges collapsed and were washed away. A large part of the affected areas can only be reached by boat. CIDA is supporting Médecins sans frontières Canada (MSF) to provide basic health care services to the cyclone affected population in the districts of Minbya and Myebon, the two hardest hit areas. Specific activities include: medical consultations through fixed and mobile clinics; secondary referrals to MSF-supported health facilities; the provision of drug and medical equipment ; and the implementation of a disease surveillance system to monitor nutritional rates in children and to prevent the outbreak of disease.