Toronto organizations try to get relief to Myanmar earthquake survivors
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Southeast Asia Friday; official death count has surpassed 2,000
Three days after a major earthquake hit Southeast Asia, levelling buildings and killing thousands, organizations in Toronto are scrambling to get aid to survivors in the region.
The epicentre of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake was located near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, but was felt around the country and in neighbouring nations. Survivors were still being pulled out of the rubble Monday, but the death toll has now climbed past 2,000 people.
Toronto organizations are appealing to Canadians to help quickly get aid to the region.
The Burma Buddhist Association of Ontario (BBAO) has been taking donations from its religious community to pass on to relief efforts on the ground. But former president Koko Kyi says the earthquake was so damaging, the organization is now appealing to all Ontarians to raise more funds, and launching a GoFundMe page.
Kyi, who is from Myanmar, says he and members of BBAO have been trying to find ways they could help since they awoke to news of the earthquake Saturday morning.
"I found, so many messages on my phone all talking about the earthquake," he said. "When I checked the internet and the websites, we were really devastated to find this damage."
Kyi says damage in Myanmar has made it difficult to transport supplies, and BBAO is still trying to find boots on the ground who can get aid to where it's most needed.
"If possible, we would like to use a local relief organization, because they know the area, they know the people and so forth," Kyi said, adding that they are also considering sending the funds they raise to international organizations in the affected areas.
"Hopefully, they will be able to access those devastated areas and provide the help which is needed," he said.
Rahul Singh, executive director at Global Medic, says his organization has sent drones to affected areas to help assess the damage. He says many roads around Mandalay are badly damaged, and an airport in the area was also hit.
Global Medic has also offered water purifiers to people on the ground to help provide clean drinking water.
Singh says he's concerned Canadians may find it difficult to give as a trade war with the U.S. threatens to raise the cost of living, but he's hopeful.
"A lot of people travel through that region, so I think the people in Toronto will want to help," Singh said. "Right now, we know people are in trouble, and we're offering the right aid to get in and get people clean drinking water."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Greg Ross and Reuters