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Netherlands to help cyclone victims Burma

News item | 06-05-2008

Development minister Bert Koenders has made 1 million euros available to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma (Myanmar).

However, until it is known which relief organisations are being allowed into the disaster area, no decision can be made on where the money will go. Mr Koenders hopes that the Burmese government will allow aid from abroad into the country as soon as possible.

Koenders is appalled by the scale of the catastrophe.

Burma was hit by Cyclone Nargis the weekend of 3 and 4 May. Burmese government estimates put the provisional death toll at 15,000. Some 3,000 people are missing and many more thousands are homeless.

Koenders will make a further sum available, the extent of which will depend on the degree of need and the contributions from other countries.