In February of 2008 we took these photos at a school in Myanmar to highlight our safe water project. In early May their school was destroyed.
These kids no longer have a school or homes. They also don’t have safe water, food, fuel or access to medicine. During this tragic time Thirst-Aid is uniquely positioned to offer help to the people of Myanmar.
Our team is already working to help the people of Yangon. The two factories we helped create to manufacture point of use ceramic water filters are working overtime to produce filters.
To donate emergency relief funds you can send a check to
Thirst-Aid
2855 Calkins PL
Broomfield, CO 80020
Or donate now directly to our PayPal account:
You can also send donations to our partner
and click on the make a donation link.
For more information regarding Thirst-Aid and our Disaster Relief initiative inside Myanmar
contact Bree Ervin, Public Relations Manager, at thirstaid2@gmail.com or 541-517-5141.
And our in country health partners are working to set up safe water distribution centers which will provide safe water and
re-hydration solutions for those in need.
With your help we can bring safe water to hundreds of thousands.
- Thirst-Aid in Myanmar –
Post Cyclone Nargis
Updated June 27, 2008
What we’ve done, what we’re doing, and what we’re planning…
And it’s all Thanks to You!
When Cyclone Nargis struck no one was ready. But, with a team inside Myanmar and multiple use visas already in place Thirst-Aid was able to respond immediately and effectively.
Here is a brief list of our accomplishments to date:
Ramped up production at our Yangon filter factory.
Re-built Twante filter factory which was leveled by the cyclone. It is now back to full wet season production – 1,000 filters per month.
Brought 5 million Aqua Tabs (donated by Global Medics) into Myanmar.
Successfully shipped 1,500 complete filter sets (Filter, bucket with tap, instructional label) to the delta region.
Created and distributed 3,000 family hygiene kits (Each kit contains a cup, plate, powdered soap and a longi – an Asian garment worn by women and men -)
In partnership with Direct Relief International we have successfully brought 45 boxes of medicine into Myanmar and distributed them to clinics in the delta region and refugee camps.
We have procured a plastic bucket mold so that we can begin production of plastic buckets in country. (Our bucket factory was leveled by Nargis.)
We helped put together a relief shipment of medical supplies, 150 filters with buckets, 1 ton of rice packaged in 1 kilo bags and some family kits to send to the delta region. It was a cooperative effort of many groups that has resulted in one of the most successful aid deliveries post cyclone.
We have helped rebuild a large UNICEF water filter that can produce enough safe water for 5-8 thousand people.
We helped to form, and continue to lend office space and organizational support to the Myanmar Grassroots Association which is busy answering to need where foreign aid cannot.
The Thirst-Ed team is educating thousands on prevention of waterborne illness, hand washing, basic hygiene and sanitation using the already developed Thirst-Ed Program as well as integrating education material developed by other international organizations such as latrine building and caring for wells and ponds.
We provided school clothes and books for 250 kids.
We delivered 140 toilet pans with instructions on how to build a hygienic emergency latrine and 20 shovels and picks for digging said latrines.
We are completing the building of a third filter factory which was begun prior to the cyclone.
Working with 2 local engineers from Evergreen Enterprises we are increasing filter production at both the Twante and Yangon filter factories with the addition of a new press, new kilns and new heat transfer technology to help dry pressed filters more quickly during the wet season.
We are distributing 100 rainwater catchments designed by one of our Myanmar partners - MHAA
We have just launched a new comprehensive public health program termed WASHED. Designed by our local Myanmar education staff this program combines Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Education components. It is being piloted in 4 villages in the delta. We plan to expand the program further into the delta once we have shown our success. Each participating village will receive a team of teachers, ceramic water filter units, toilet pans and brushes, schematics on latrine building, powdered soap and basins for hand washing, tooth brushes and paste. Our education team will train local volunteers in the use of educational materials, once they have shown their proficiency our team will leave and allow the village to implement the system. Mini teams will follow up with each village to ensure proper use of equipment and sustained use of knowledge.
We are also talking to possible local partners for a future project in North Myanmar to address non-Nargis needs in the mountain region.
We are making plans for the future; concentrating on sustainable development and economic recovery.
We've got big hopes to turn this disaster into an opportunity for better health by providing the thousands now homeless with ceramic filters as they rebuild their villages. There were 15 million people in need of safe drinking water before the cyclone, now is a good time to start reducing that number.
