Five aid workers from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia are on standby to go to Myanmar as part of the organisation's response to the Cyclone Nargis emergency. All of them are logistics experts with experience working in humanitarian crises including technical areas of water and sanitation.

MSF teams already on the ground in Myanmar immediately began assessing and responding to the needs of the population following the cyclone's destruction. On Monday, MSF teams began to distribute food rations (including rice, dried beans and oil) plastic sheeting, jerry cans and fuel for water pumps to people in Daala and Twantey Townships south of Yangon, which has a population of about 300,000. The teams reported 80% destruction of buildings in parts of the region which in some areas remains under one metre of flood water.

Twenty International Field Staff including medical doctors, nurses and the five Australians, are all ready to join the MSF teams in Myanmar. A cargo plane containing 40 tonnes of first aid materials is ready for full deployment.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please call Sally McMillan on 0447 482 379.

Other articles on Myanmar Cyclone:

» Field Notes - Interview with Head of Mission › 07/05/08

» Press Release - MSF teams bring immediate assistance, while additional staff and relief    materials are ready to be sent › Press Release › 07/05/08