On May 3rd, Cyclone Nargis hit the coast of Myanmar, killing thousands of people and leaving thousands more without shelter and safe drinking water. According to The New York Times, the Myanmar government's official death toll had climbed to 32,000 by Monday, May 12th, with nearly 30,000 people still missing in the aftermath of the disaster. The United Nations estimates an even larger tragedy, predicting between 62,000 and 100,000 lives lost in the disaster.

Personnel from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency, have been granted entry visas to carry out humanitarian aid in Myanmar, thanks to the JDC's 94-year history as a nonpolitical relief organization. Despite political barriers to entry that have hindered relief efforts from many American international-aid organization, a senior JDC professional is already on the ground in Myanmar, planning relief operations to aid those stranded by the cyclone.

UJA-Federation of New York has opened a Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund offering direct assistance to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. One hundred percent of your generous gift will be distributed for humanitarian services in Myanmar, with no overhead deducted.