Contact: Stephanie Bowen Communications Manager (310) 826-7800 sbowen@imcworldwide.org

May 23, 2008, Los Angeles, Calif. - International Medical Corps (IMC) has received clearance for its emergency response team to enter Myanmar and provide aid to cyclone victims. The team is scheduled to be in-country by the end of the week, where it will deliver much-needed relief based on the needs highlighted in field assessments. On the ground, IMC will facilitate the distribution of relief items and administer necessary health services to those most devastated by the May 2-3 cyclone.

To maximize its relief efforts, International Medical Corps has developed partnerships with relief agencies inside the country, including one organization that is currently administering emergency services in and around Yangon through a network of mobile and stationary medical clinics. Collaborating at the international, regional, and local levels, the IMC team will join its partners in Myanmar equipped with emergency supplies, including medicines, hygiene kits, and water purification tablets. With many of Myanmar's roads impassable due to flooding and debris, IMC is also developing plans for logistical supply lines to the hardest hit areas.

"The number of people who lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones due to the cyclone is enormous. As more become vulnerable to disease and other disaster-related risks, the need for responsive aid grows every day. We hope that our entry to Myanmar is part of a sign of the international relief community gaining momentum to get what is needed wherever it is needed," says Rabih Torbay, International Medical Corps vice president of international operations.

Almost three weeks have passed since Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar and the U.N. predicts that 2.5 million people are in need of immediate assistance. The U.N. also estimates that only 25 percent of the affected population has received aid. The worst natural disaster to hit Asia since the 2004 tsunami, the government has estimated the death toll to be approximately 78,000, while other reports say up to 128,000 have died. Another 56,000 are reported as missing.

As millions live without shelter, food, and clean water, the current death toll could increase due to diarrheal illnesses, parasitic infections, and other potentially life-threatening health issues. In the case of tropical storms, the risk of dengue fever and malaria also rises, as flooding not only increases the number of mosquito breeding grounds, but also their proximity to people. Endemic malnutrition increases these risks, particularly in children under five. While no outbreaks have been reported, Myanmar is already prone to malaria, with the World Health Organization predicting that 34 million - 64 percent of its population - are at-risk. This is likely to be exacerbated by monsoon rains, running mid-May through mid-October.

"In an emergency of this magnitude, the level of need is enormous and having both the technical capacity and resources available for the response is critical," says Torbay. "Our entry provides those communities affected by the disaster with one more experienced relief agency on the ground that can help to minimize health risks. We will continue to work with other organizations so that the aid effort can make the greatest impact possible."

International Medical Corps has been building local disaster response capacity in the region, specifically in Indonesia, for years, and is coordinating its response with longstanding Indonesian emergency response partners.

The worst natural disaster in Myanmar in decades, the 10-hour storm packed winds up to 130 miles per hour. It pummeled five areas, including its largest city, Rangoon, and its rice-growing region, the Irrawaddy Delta. With five states declared disaster zones, the government has established an emergency committee headed by the Prime Minister and has asked the international community for help in its relief effort. After destroying much of its agriculture, the cyclone is also likely to increase Myanmar's food insecurity in a time of rising food costs.

Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.imcworldwide.org.