U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts Hampered

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Cyclone Ravages Burmese Delta

Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the nation's largest city and rice-producing delta on May 3, 2008. More storms headed toward the country as the U.N. warned that inadequate relief efforts could lead to rising death tolls.

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GlobalGiving.org, a leading online philanthropy marketplace, set up a fund that shepherds donations to grass-roots emergency aid projects that the organization has vetted.

The Harvard Burma Action Movement, a political advocacy group, is selling T-shirts for $20, with $14 from each sale going to cyclone survivors.

"People who haven't even heard of Burma have been buying them," said the group's incoming president, Katie Fitzgerald, 20, a junior.

The American Red Cross has been collecting donations and received $1 million from the U.S. government for its efforts in Burma. Tomorrow, the agency plans to fly in water, bed nets to try to control malaria and other supplies, said Christy Feig, a Red Cross spokeswoman.

"If we can help people get clean drinking water, you can reduce the risk of a lot of diseases," Feig said.

Relief groups in Burma received large donations yesterday and were expecting more.

Save the Children, which has operated in Burma since 1995, has 500 workers in the country and has shipped 30 tons of supplies there over the past two days, spokesman Mike Kiernan said.

"We have an ongoing relationship with local and regional authorities, and they understand what we can do," Kiernan said. "That's not to say there aren't enormous challenges in this region, which is still largely covered by water. There's a great concern about the outbreak of water-borne diseases that could increase the death toll."

World Vision, a Christian charity, has issued an appeal for $3 million to fund its work in Burma. The group has been distributing rice and water as well as tents, tarps and medicines.

"We've had plenty of people donating online and calling," spokesman Casey Calamusa said. "Obviously, people here care about it, and it's something they want to act on."