UNICEF reached the struck communities in the districts of Yangon and Irrawaddy, taking them medicines and life-saving supplies, including salts for oral rehydration, antibiotics, intravenous solutions, vaccines and A vitamin, sufficient to cure 600 thousand people, and in particular, the children with acute diarrhoea, malaria and dengue. “Up to now - it is written in a note -, there have been no epidemics, though some cases have been known, which are nevertheless usual in this period of the year”. Moreover, UNICEF gave assistance to the Burma government for the vaccination campaigns against measles in children under fifteen years of age. “The most serious problems - explained the agency - concern the destruction of health centres and lack of medical staff in struck areas - while the assistance demand is clearly increasing - since many people died”. UNICEF is tackling that problem with the national associations of medical staff, with over 130 health operators, nurses and midwives already send or going to be sent to the Laputta, Bogale and Pyapon areas.

Two months after cyclone Nargis, which caused 84 thousand dead in Myanmar (with 54 thousand people currently missing), UNICEF is going on strengthening assistance to children and families in the most seriously struck areas, by supplying medicine and nutritional aid, water and sanitation, by fostering re-opening of schools and by protecting children left alone. “Cyclone Nargis had serious consequences on the lives, the integrity and the health of children: UNICEF” is pledging for “the children of Myanmar to go on receiving the aid which they need to overcome the serious shock which they suffered”, declared Ramesh Shresta, UNICEF representative in Myanmar. “We cannot forget the sufferings of children, we must do something to eliminate them”. Thanks to support by several donors, the UNO agency for children operates in close touch with the Government, the other UNO agencies and partner organizations to reach the farthest places in the Irrawaddy delta by means of helicopters and boats, to take them the necessary aid. According to UNO estimates, the seriously struck people are 2.4 million, one million of whom are roofless and without means of support. (To be continued)

The young Catholics of Bangladesh are spiritually preparing for taking part in the World Youth Day in Sidney, by reflecting on the message of the Pope. A delegation of twenty-one young people will leave from Bangladesh. 142 million people of Muslim religion are living in this country (the Christians are 0.3% of the population). The delegation will be led by a Salesian nun, Zita Rema, secretary of the Youth Commission of the Bishop’s Conference of Bangladesh. The bishop of Santa Croce, Msgr. Mosè M. Costa, president of the Youth Commission, and Msgr. Gervas Rozario, bishop of Rajshahi, will also take part in the journey. "We set up a meeting to say that the journey to Australia is not going to be a tourist visit, but a spiritual journey", declared Sister Zita to Asian Catholic Agency Ucanews. The participants are meeting today for the last preparations and a special Mass before the flight to Australia. Sister Zita hopes the World Youth Day will offer the young of Bangladesh the opportunity to share their culture. In fact, a show of traditional Bangladeshi dances is scheduled at the Asian Youth Gathering on 16th July. The protagonists will be three girls of the delegation. "I hope I will learn much from the event, in particular, about the lives of the young from other countries", said Rosy Rongma, one of the dancers. "We are very happy to have this wonderful opportunity", confirmed Laboni Mondol.