Burma Cyclone Relief Appeal

‘This is a humanitarian disaster on an unimaginable scale and we are asking all Australians to donate through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA to the disaster relief work already underway by Norwegian People’s Aid and grassroots organisations on the ground’ said Sharan Burrow of the ACTU.

Please encourage family/friends/colleagues and all unionists you talk to, to support Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's appeal on Burma.

Here's a chance for all of us to support the Australian union movement's aid agency and ensure support goes DIRECTLY to the people impacted.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has worked for a long time with the people of Burma. The projects are not inside Burma but with the refugee and migrant worker communities on the Thai-Burma Border. The decision not to work inside Burma is a policy decision in line with the ACTU's policy. (Please contact Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA or Alison Tate at the ACTU if you would like more information on this). However Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), the humanitarian aid agency of Norwegian trade unions do have local and international staff based in Rangoon. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's appeal will deliver assistance directly and accountably to local people via NPA.

The situation current in Burma:

The situation is grim. Days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Rangoon, local residents are still fending for themselves with little or no help from local authorities. There are reports of tens of thousands of lives lost and we can only expect that number to grow as long as aid delivery is delayed by the military Junta.

People now are in desperate need for food, water, shelter and medical aid. The people responding to their needs have been the monks of Burma who are sheltering people in their monasteries and providing as much food aid and water as they can. 'Most people are homeless, without water and without electricity. I believe that soon our people will be starving,' said a resident from Shwepyithar Township. 'Most people are drinking dirty water.'

Norwegian People's Aid is currently assessing the damage and the needs of the people and it still finalising the details of its relief effort. However we are determined to get aid to the people in greatest need with your assistance.

Funds raised by Australian people through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA:

These funds will go directly to Norwegian People's Aid's Rangoon office who will work with grassroots associations in Burma to get aid to people in need.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has a close relationship with both Norwegian People's Aid and the National Council of Unions in Burma and are resolute that aid will go to the people in who most need it. Those people who were already made vulnerable by the military regime and who have been made desperate by this cyclone.

Top priorities for aid are of course clean water, food, shelter and medical assistance.

Please give generously to the people of Burma at this desperate time

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How to make your donation to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's Burma Cyclone Appeal
Telephone: 1800 888 674 Fax: (02) 9261 1118 or email: office@unionaidabroad.org.au  for enquiries.

Cheques: can be made out to Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA and posted to:
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, Level 3, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

Or Online: Please follow the steps below. You may wish to print off this page of instructions.

To make an online donation with your credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) simply:

Click here to access the secure online donation form
Go to Section C ONE-OFF DONATIONS and select One-off donation - Burma refugees from the drop-down menu
Enter your donation amount in the $ box at right
Click Continue
Enter your credit card payment details (Visa and Mastercard only accepted)
Enter your contact details and please type "CYCLONE APPEAL" after your name in the name field to ensure that your donation is directed to our appeal.
Click Finalise Order to send your donation
Please call Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA on 1800 888 674 if you have any queries.

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If someone you know may want to receive this as an e-bulletin please ask them to visit http://www.apheda.org.au/site/subscribe.html  to subscribe.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas humanitarian aid agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Lvl 3, 377-383 Sussex St Sydney NSW 2000

t: 02 9264 9343 or 1800 888 674

www.unionaidabroad.org.au