news and media: news
May 2008
American Leprosy Missions (ALM) Requests Myanmar Cyclone Emergency Relief
(Greenville, SC—May 9 , 2008) As Myanmar’s military junta seized U.N. aid shipments headed for hungry and homeless survivors of last week’s devastating cyclone, American Leprosy Missions (ALM) sent out an urgent appeal to its supporters to help with the relief efforts.
The death toll is estimated at over 100,000 and more than one million are now homeless. Children huddle under canvas covers as their parents struggle to find food to eat and clean water to drink. Equally as tragic, much of the rice crop has been destroyed. In a country where food is at a premium, those affected by leprosy will only move further into poverty and despair in the coming weeks.
ALM has served leprosy affected families in Myanmar for over 60 years and has already committed over $300,000 this year to support leprosy cure and care, education, spiritual enrichment, and nutritional programs.
Now, emergency funds are being secured so that the ALM field staff already in Myanmar, some personally affected by the cyclone, can begin to rebuild their devastated country.
American Leprosy Missions is the oldest and largest non-profit organization in the United States providing cure and care to people affected by leprosy and related conditions worldwide. ALM’s national headquarters are located in Greenville, SC.
