• Contribution of S$50,000 to support relief efforts in Myanmar; in addition to previously-announced S$100,000 to Lao PDR and Vietnam
• Volunteers on 9-day deployment in Lao PDR; Another team bound for Vietnam in October
• 50 Water Filters delivered to Lao PDR via SAF’s Changi RHCC Humanitarian Flight

Singapore, 20 September 2024 – In wake of the devastating aftermath caused by Tropical Cyclone Yagi and Southwest Monsoon that swept across Southeast Asia, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is expanding its support to include humanitarian aid for Myanmar. This comes as part of a larger, region-wide effort to assist communities severely impacted across Southeast Asia.

The public fundraising appeal by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) will now support relief and recovery efforts in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines and Viet Nam.

Humanitarian Aid for Myanmar, Lao PDR and Viet Nam

The SRC will contribute SGD 50,000 to support disaster relief efforts in Myanmar, working closely with the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS). This will fund the distribution of food, clean water, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to the communities hardest hit by the recent calamities. Due to the urgent need for safe drinking water, SRC will also be sending water filters in the coming weeks.

This support for Myanmar builds upon SRC’s earlier commitment of SGD 50,000 each towards humanitarian aid for Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Announced on 29 August and 12 September 2024, SRC’s support for the relief efforts led by Lao Red Cross and Viet Nam Red Cross goes towards restoring hope for those affected by Tropical Cyclone Yagi and the severe floods across Southeast Asia. 

SRC Volunteers conduct Needs Assessment, support Relief Operations in Lao PDR

SRC’s 3-person response team arrived in Lao PDR on 16 September to provide support in relief operations and needs assessment. 

The team set foot in the province of Luang Namtha, where 40,000 people across two districts are in urgent need of assistance, and conducted needs assessment and relief activities in Thong Kua Village and Tavanh Village in the Luang Namtha province. In Thong Kua Village, the team distributed household kits containing blankets, mosquito nets and other household items. In Tavanh Village, the team demonstrated the use of water filters to the local LRC volunteers and the villagers, supporting access to clean drinking water. The team will remain in Lao PDR until 24 September. If additional support is required, SRC is prepared to deploy further teams to assist in recovery efforts. 

Additionally, SRC has successfully delivered 50 water filters to Lao PDR through SAF’s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (Changi RHCC) Humanitarian Flight. The water filters enhance the communities’ access to clean drinking water, further enhancing the resilience of communities in Laos.

In October, SRC will mobilise another three-person team to Viet Nam to support early recovery efforts. Plans are underway to send a team to Yangon, where discussions will centre on enhancing joint efforts for sustained relief and recovery operations in Myanmar, with a focus on addressing both urgent and ongoing needs in the hardest hit communities. 

Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General/CEO of the Singapore Red Cross, said, “The devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Yagi, compounded by the Southwest Monsoon, has triggered one of Southeast Asia’s most severe climate disasters. The loss of lives, including children and the elderly, and the mass displacement of communities has caused much devastation and heartbreak. In times of crisis, solidarity is our greatest strength. We have swiftly mobilised humanitarian aid to provide critical support to the affected communities, as they navigate the aftermath of this catastrophe. At the same time, we are working in close coordination with our sister National Societies across Southeast Asia to share available resources, and we stand ready to provide additional assistance. We hope the People of Singapore will rally behind our humanitarian efforts, and contribute generously to our fundraising appeal.”

Effects of Tropical Cyclone Yagi and the Southwest Monsoon

The combined effects of Tropical Cyclone Yagi - one of the strongest typhoons to hit Southeast Asia in decades - and the Southwest Monsoon has left a trail of destruction in multiple countries. Severe flooding, landslides, and extensive infrastructural damage have ravaged multiple countries, resulting in over 500 confirmed fatalities across the region, with the toll expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.

In Myanmar alone, the floods triggered by Tropical Cyclone Yagi have claimed at least 226 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes. The disaster has placed immense pressure on Myanmar’s already limited resources, intensifying the challenges faced by the communities. In response, the MRCS has mobilised more than 300 volunteers to provide humanitarian assistance to affected communities in Naypyitaw, Bago, Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Southern Shan, Mandalay, and Eastern Shan. Humanitarian assistance includes evacuation response, first aid services and the distribution of urgently needed relief supplies such as food packages, hygiene kits, safe drinking water, life jackets, raincoats and medicines.