Last week Abercrombie & Kent Myanmar mobilized teams on the ground to help victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, contributing $5,000 for essential supplies such as rice, drinking water, cooking oil, medicines, clothing and temporary shelters. Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy also donated an additional $10,000 in immediate aid.
The A&K team in other parts of the country, supported by the local A&K guides, are purchasing food and cooking oil products locally in places such as Inle Lake and Pagan and transporting this to the Delta, via Yangon. This takes a little longer but avoids the hugely inflated prices being charged by merchants in Yangon, where some items have risen by over 500 percent since the cyclone.
A&K has also been getting contributions from the travel agent community and others. A&K reports that this local micro aid is proving extremely effective and the company will continue daily deliveries to the most affected areas throughout the Delta. These efforts are all being made in conjunction with the local authorities and agencies. Those interested in contributing can visit www.friendsofconservation.org/Donate.htm.