Possibly better way to help Burma's cyclone victims
Thu May 08, 2008 at 07:43:30 AM PDT
Even though I've been a regular visitor here, I've never posted my own diary. However, as I see a lot of people wanting to help and the traditional way of helping (red cross, doctors without borders etc) are being hindered by the junta's red tape, stubboness, and paranoia, I'd like to suggest an alternative way of helping.
As a Burmese being in the States for 14 years, I believe I have a better understanding of what is happening. As is the case of 2005 tsunami, the military government is extremely weary of outsiders, regardless of the purpose of the visit. It (the ruthless regime machine) is also afraid of any single reporter that would return home and plaster a couple of pictures on the front page of Newsweek or Time magazine.
In short, if you are thinking about donating, the traditional way of giving might be slow and less effective. The last time I check the news, the UN aid is still blocked or being hindered and so is the case for a lot of other "western" countries and agencies. The reason is the junta is going to try to wrestle control of all the aid materials saying it will hand everything out: in the news about it already. But, what will happen after everybody leaves is that all the generals and military personnels will grab a significant portion of the aid and the victims will end up with a tiny percentage of the aid, if at all. If you have seen the initial food distribution scene of Black Hawk Down, it's kind of like that.
Normally, I hate to promote --I've never done that-- any non-profit in any disaster involving Burma to avoid being seen as opportunistic and self-interest promotion. But, here is one that I would like to recommend because my wife is a member, my sister-in-law used to be treasurer; and my wife's surgeon is the secretary. Here is the email my wife got yesterday.
Dear All Members:
The Society raised the Emergency Relief Fund for Myanmar to help the people affected by cyclone.
$ 5000.00 from the Society and $ 5050.00 from some EC members,
Total Fund up to now - $ 10,050.00
The Fund will be in the separate bank account. It will be used directly ONLY for the People in Myanmar, for Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing and Medical supplies.
If you know someone who would like to donate, please tell them to make the check payable to
The Myanmar American Medical Education Society, Inc.
MEMO: Emergency Relief Fund
Please mail the check to
Myanmar American Medical Education Society
128 Mott Street, Suite 302
New York, NY 10013
With Loving Kindness,
MAMS
UPDATED Letter from the President
Dear All Myanmar Physicians and fellow Myanmar Pyaythu Pyaythar Myar,
Thanks for your generous supports for the relief efforts for victims of killer cyclone. By now everybody is aware of the scope and nature of disaster.
The Society raised the Emergency Relief Fund for Myanmar to help the People affected by Cyclone.
$ 5000.00 from the Society and $ 11,850.00 from some EC members and Myanmar Physicians.
Total Fund up to now - $ 16,850.00
It will be used directly ONLY for the People in Myanmar , for Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing and Medical supplies.
Cyclone Nargis left more than a million homeless with ever rising death tolls every day. This is total humanitarian catastrophe and it will get worse before it get better.
Most of the survivals are now at risk for outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases and also malnutrition associated with lack of clean water resources and shortage of food supply and runaway inflation. The children and the infirm will be most vulnerable.
It's comforting to see the world community is coming together opening their hearts and offering international aids. We, as fellow citizens of Burma will unite to help whatever we can, big or small reaching out to the victims and the helpless.
We are taking all pledges first from everybody, then send your pledges to :
Please mail the check to
Myanmar American Medical Education Society
128 Mott Street, Suite 302
New York, NY 10013
All donations are tax deductible.
Please make the check payable to - The Myanmar American Medical Education Society, Inc.
MEMO: Emergency Relief Fund
EC and Board Members will have emergency meeting on Saturday, May 10
at Dr. Chang's clinic located at 5303 8th Ave, Bro0klyn, NY 11220, at 6pm.
Everybody is invited to attend.
We like to thank the following pledges for cyclone disaster relief fund;
$ 5000.00 form the Society
Dr. Chan Aung and Dr. Pamela Yee from Baltimore: - $ 2000
Dr. Yan Shin Tan from Staten Island, NY - $ 1000
Dr. James and Juliana Hsu - $ 1000
Dr. Bernard Wu - $ 1000
Dr. Jonathan Chang - $ 1000
Dr. Shu Yain Chin - $ 1000
Dr. San San Wynn - $ 1000
Dr. Myat San and Mie Mie San - $ 1000
Dr. Myat Myat Mon - $ 1000
Dr. Moe Moe Myint - $ 500
Dr. Parkash Talwar from Chicago - $ 500
Dr. Mg Mg and Dr. Cho Cho Han - $ 300
Dr. Thura Moekyaw and Dr. Shwe Zin Win - $ 300
Dr. Aye Khine and Dr. Khine Win Phyu - $ 250
Thankfully,
James A. Hsu, MD
President
The Myanmar American Medical Education Society
New York
The reason I think this organization will be effective because, this society is formed by Burma graduated medical doctors doing well in the States. Well enough that they would not need to abuse the funds. All the members have close family members and strong ties in Burma. Most of them still going there often and called home weekly. Also NONE of the members are paid anything as far as salary because frankly they don't need it.
If you donate, what will happen with your money is,
a. it'll be taken back to Burma by a member or members of the society.
b. it'll be converted to local currency at current market rate of ~ 1100 Kyats per USD (not at government's ~ 7 Kyats per USD).
c. supplies (food, medical, clothing) will be bought by the local people knowledgeable enough about the price/market/condition. Not at inflated prices on inappropriate items.
When I say inappropriate items, I mean things like warm blankets which are in most standard disaster kit from help organizations. Why? Beginning March, Burma's summer season is scorching HOT (up to about 115 degrees F during the day). The last thing they'll need is blankets. Even at night, out there in the paddy fields by the river, the temperature is still about 85 degrees F. What they need is raincoats/waterproof tents because rainy season starts at June, lasting till about October. Also they'll need mosquitos' nets because with the rainy season, the mosquitoes are very active; carrying malaria and other deadly diseases. They'll also need Aspirin/Tylenol equivalent painkillers because people catch cold very often during the raining season, now even more because they don't have a roof over their heads.
The prices the non-burmese paid on items will be inflated because most aren't any wiser. If the aids buy a bottled water at $0.50, they might think it's reasonable because it's $1 here. However, the going price is only about $0.10 and it's $0.25 at the most even after the cyclone.
Now, the address this money will be going to is the office of my daughter's pediatrician, a member of the society and yes, she's from Burma too. I would hate to provide her phone number because I wouldn't want her to be bombarded with phone calls since she has a busy enough job as it is. But, you can Google for a phone number if you are weary and insist on being thorough.
The one thing I can vouch for is your money will get to the victims directly without middleman. However, I do not know if this society is non-profit or its tax status as far as your deduction is concerned. You might want to email (http://www.mamsus.org/, yeah I know the website is lacking and I haven't had a chance to donate my time and skills due to a first newborn) and ask about receipt. But, if you only care about help getting to the victims directly and un-diverted, this is one of the greatest backdoors into cyclone victims, and no, you won't find this through Google or any other sites.
Thank you.
PS:
As for the downtown Rangoon, except for fallen trees and satellite dishes, things are ok in Rangoon. Phone lines are restored (called family for about an hour) and Internet is back. My 100-yr old brick house and others' are undamaged because most houses in Rangoon are all brick and the walls are 1 to 3 feet thick (built to last back in the British days). The area being hit the hardest were in the surrounding suburbs and villages because the homes there are built on woods, bambo stems due to poverty and they fared badly against 120mph wind and 12-ft waves.
I've just got a reply from the organization that the PayPal account setup will be discussed at the meeting this Saturday. I'll keep you all updated on the outcome. You know how doctors and computers are like.
I've just re-read my diary and I think I might be coming off as trying to sell this organization too much. So, I'd like to state clearly that
a. I'm not a member of this organization and I have absolutely no interest in the success or the failure of it. I'm not even in the medical field (I'm in computer consulting) and my wife is not even a paying committe member in it. She's a member in a sense that 1. she's a physician 2. she's Burmese 3. she's got an award once from the society for scoring above 90 in all 3 USMLE exams.
b. No-one has asked me to do this. And no one in the society has said or implied otherwise. I saw the email from the society in my wife's inbox. At the same time, I saw diaries like this. So, I've just decided to post it, so that if people are looking for an alternative way of giving, there is just one more choice.
As far as I know, the above two emails from the society is sent to and intended for all the Burmese doctors only. I also know that they are actively collecting among Burmese doctors/nurses at the hospitals. However, I don't think they would mind the help from anywhere. I also know that a lot of overseas Burmese doctors are preparing to go home to help their sick countrymen.
c. Since I can't cure people but, I know where a group of kind, generous and liberal people hangout, I decided to help get the message out. That's all there is to this diary.
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