MYANMAR – Aid workers do not only provide relief goods, but we also have the duty to fight for the protection of the suffering people we serve. All too often we are kept silent over the sensitivities of speaking out against oppressive and corrupt governments in case we endanger ourselves, the project or the people we are assisting. This morning I left Myanmar and can now talk openly about the things I saw. (more…)

SHIFANG – It’s 5 days after Sichuan’s earthquake disaster. All the supermarkets are mostly empty and shops are still closed. Water is sold out in most places because there are reports saying that a water plant in Dujiangyan has been damaged by the earthquake and Chengdu’s drinking water is polluted. (more…)

CHENGDU – My morning started around 5 a.m. with a realization that my bed shaking. I reached for a flashlight provided by the hotel just in case… it was a mild aftershock lasting maybe 20 seconds.  I stirred, checked mobile messages and e-mails from the night and packed my backpack for the day.  (more…)

When I woke up this morning in Beijing, my home, I didn’t expect to be rushing to the airport to be in the heart of the earthquake relief and response - Chengdu.  (more…)

BEIJING – It’s been a long day and I feel like my laptop and mobile phone are new appendages. The numbers keep going up –death tolls are topping 12,000 people in Sichuan Province and more than 22,000 injured.  18,000 people buried in Mianyang just popped up on the TV. I’m afraid the death toll may greatly increase.  (more…)

BEIJING – My mobile phone started buzzing in my pocket around 2:30 p.m. yesterday as Operation Blessing staff called to make sure I was OK during the earthquake. I was outside our offices and sensed nothing – but in Beijing we watched from our first floor offices as Chinese employees from businesses literally ran out of the building. (more…)

MYANMAR – I’m back from the Delta region, it was an incredible day.  My translator and I travelled by boat some distance and then hired a driver to take us into the worst hit areas.  I purchased 2 tons of rice as a continuation of OBI’s rapid response project.  (more…)

Myanmar – This morning I visited an orphanage with 60 children. The roof was badly damaged and they told me that food was a priority need. I purchased one month’s worth of food and charcoal. (more…)

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – The news continues to report the extent of the damage and the lives lost. While in Chiang Mai meeting my other team members to strategize on how we are going to implement our projects, we met a couple of gentlemen from a large NGO. (more…)

Myanmar – I made it in to Myanmar just before dark.
I heard about an orphanage outside the city that had its roof ripped off and was partly destroyed during the cyclone. I will be there tomorrow morning early to start working.

The leader is telling me the children are sick with diarrhea and badly need a new roof, which is made out of corrugated steel tiles. I’ll see what I can do for a quick initial project.

After that, I have arranged for a driver with a 4 x 4 to take me and my translator to some of the worse-hit areas. We will assess the needs of the people and look for partners already in place. My hope is to get as deep into the zone as possible tomorrow.

I have been unable to get through to anyone at the YMCA clinic where OBI and Humedica hired three local doctors and two nurses. I hope to be in touch with them tomorrow.  I am also trying to track down the World Food Programme team.

I think the doors will soon be open for other aid workers to come in, but for now, OBI is on the ground doing our part in helping the people of Myanmar.