The International relief and development agency, World Vision, based in Fox Milne, is working in the worst affected regions of Myanmar – the Irrawaddy Delta and Yangon.

A team of 10 was sent out last week and their initial plan is to
assist 250,000 people in area that was devasted by Cyclone Nargis.

World Vision's Asia Regional Coordinator, Al Richardson, said: "We have already started distributing relief items, including tarpaulins, rice, clean water, blankets and clothing. We are also providing clothing such as sarongs and T-shirts."

World Vision's health adviser, Dr Kyi Minn, on the ground, said: "Outbreak of disease is inevitable. We are hearing stories of people eating rotten fish as there is no other food available.

"Corpses and general lack of sanitation will lead to contamination of food and water, putting people at risk of food poisoning, typhoid, and bacterial diseases. Standing water will bring out mosquito-born diseases in a region where malaria is already endemic."

In the next few days, World Vision's Global Rapid Response Team, consisting of people experienced in emergency response are also preparing to arrive in Myanmar.

They are aiming to help the millions of stranded children, like two-year-old Maung Soe, and his sixth-month-old sister, whose village was destroyed by the super cyclone.

He ran for his life with eight family members to seek shelter at the local school in the town of Hlaning Thar Yar.

His father recalls their escape: "At first I took my three youngest family members and ran to a nearby house that was still OK. Then, about 8am, battling through rain and wind, we ran to the school as it is the only place that could not be blown away in our neighbourhood."

For more information about World Vision's work in Burma, visit www.worldvision.org.uk