A second tropical storm now threatens cyclone-ravaged Burma (aka Myanmar), adding to the growing list of horrific weather worries around the world. In just a few short weeks, various areas of the globe have suffered devastating earthquakes, cyclones, tornadoes and typhoons. The most recent and worst events include:

1. Nearly 15,000 people are reported dead, with 25,000 more trapped as a result of the 7.9 earthquake which hit China's Sichuan province May 12. The BBC reports that Chinese troops have been mobilized and aid has begun trickling in to what has been referred to as the worst earthquake to strike China since the 1976 Tangshan disaster which killed 240,000 people. A thousand students remain trapped in collapsed school buildings and some mountain towns have not a single building left standing. It is reported nearly 65,000 people remain injured.

2. Meanwhile, a new cluster of rotating thunderstorms has developed around Myanmar, lashing the country with torrential rains and more flooding, in an area already hard hit by Cyclone Nargis which struck the Gulf of Martaban, affecting Rangoon and the Irrawaddy River delta on May 3, leaving 22,000 confirmed dead and more than 40,000 missing.

Unlike China, which is coordinating help from within and without, Myanmar continues to restrict aid, refuse it outright, or misappropriate what disaster relief it will accept.

3. Meanwhile, flash floods have hit the Philippines, after days of persistent heavy rain fell across southern, central and western parts of the country. The death toll is still small (only two reported dead on Wednesday, May 14) but thousands have been forced from their homes. The recent heavy rains, according to a BBC report, are attributed to Typhoon Rammasun which has been hurtling toward Japan over the past few days.

4. Last week, two tornadoes roared across the southern United States, destroying over 100 homes across Mississippi, Virginia and Maryland. Now, with winds has high as 260 mph (418kph), the strong, rotating columns of wind are said to be tracking east, heading offshore into the Atlantic.

5. However, there is no respite in the state of New South Wales where Australia's worst drought in 100 years continues. While floods and rain wreck havoc across the seas, almost half the land in Australia desperately needs water. According to the National Climate Center in Melbourne, Victoria, below average rainfall through April has created water shortages in central and eastern Australia. Dry conditions threaten to continue through this week.

As one BBC correspondent noted recently, Burma and China, as a military junta and a communist oligarchy, are traditionally suspicious of outside intervention; Chinese officials are openly meeting with the world press and coordinating relief efforts. In contrast, Burma is openly hostile to both disaster aid and disaster reportage. Nonetheless, the UK established a Disasters Emergency Committee to coordinate Myanmar Cyclone Relief. Those wishing to donate can contact them via their website: www.dec.org.uk.

As of May 14, relief teams from the Red Cross had shipped tarpaulins, while reaching 23,000 people in Myanmar, giving water, shelter, medical supplies, basic medical treatment and providing generators to pump clean water to those in the worst affected areas.

Oxfam Hong Kong is in Sichuan and Gansu Provinces in China, working closely to provide drinking water, medical supplies and other emergency aid.

Our current list of relief agencies providing assistance include:

World Vision
The Red Cross
Save the Children
Oxfam Hong Kong
Amity Foundation
Disasters Emergency Committee (UK only)


Please write to DOTmed to keep our readers posted on your efforts and what type of donations are needed most. (Click on "Send us your comments"). Or, utilize DOTmed's charity web page at:
http://www.dotmed.com/services/charity.html