Burma cyclone relief (From This Is Local London)

Burma cyclone relief

12:33pm Saturday 17th May 2008 in

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An aid worker from a Watford charity has flown to Burma to assist with the massive humanitarian work being undertaken in the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis.

Mark Castellino is programmes director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA-UK), an aid agency based in Garston.

He is helping organise the relief effort caused by the devastating cyclone, which crashed into the South East Asian county on May 3 and has left more than 30,000 people dead or missing.

The UN and Oxfam have both said many more could have perished and estimate 1.5 million people across Burma's Irrawaddy delta area are now facing death due to the current public health catastrophe.

Before he left Mark, who lives in Berkshire, described the devastation in Burma as "colossal".

Mark said: "Over the last five days we have heard of increasing numbers of fatalities.

"Our colleagues on the ground have reported severe damage to properties, livelihoods, and worst of all, loss of life. We know that the devastation is colossal, and it demands a large scale response.

"Together with my colleagues both in Burma and from around the world I am hoping to be able to contribute towards bringing some alleviation to the survivors of this terrible disaster."

ADRA-UK, which has its headquarters in Stanbrough Park, already has a presence in Burma having worked with the World Food Programme, distributing food packages to remote rural areas for past few years.

The charity's office in Yangon, the former capital of Burma and previously known as Rangoon, is already providing families in the south of the country with water purification tablets, food and materials to build makeshift shelters.

Mark will be in Burma next week assisting in the first phase of operations.

He added: "I've been to Burma twice previously.

"When I saw the news pictures and heard the stories coming back from places that I've been to it gave it deeper meaning to me personally. I'm hoping that my contribution will make a difference to people who are suffering terribly.

"I will assist in planning how that money will be spent so that we can assist as many people as possible in the best way possible."

• Anyone who wants to donate money to ADRA-UK's appeal can be made at www.adra.org.uk. Cheques for the Myanmar Cyclone Appeal can also be sent to ADRA-UK, Stanborough Park, Watford, Herts, WD25 9JZ.

They should be made payable to "ADRA-UK" and to "Gift Aid" your donation include a signed note saying "please Gift Aid this donation".