Dear Ms. Young and Ms. Rankine, Episcopal Relief and Development needs your help as we provide emergency assistance to communities in Myanmar (Burma) devastated by Cyclone Nargis. The storm, packing winds up to 150 miles per hour, swept through the country on May 3rd, leaving over 22,000 people dead and 41,000 more still missing. The death toll is expected to rise.  Over 1 million people have lost their homes.  Entire villages have been swept away or are under water. The situation in Myanmar is dire. At best, the country’s infrastructure is marginal and the storm has placed an unbearable strain on already limited services. Power outages and scattered debris continue to hamper recovery efforts. But the full extent of the damage remains unclear due to poor communications and roads made impassable by the storm. Working with local Anglican and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief and Development is sending funds to secure desperately needed shelter, food, water and other critical supplies for people displaced by the cyclone. Please contribute to these life-saving efforts today. Because of our existing relationship with local partners on the ground, Episcopal Relief and Development is able to respond quickly within the country. Our immediate focus will be on recovery from the cyclone, but we will also work with our partners in Myanmar to develop a long-term rehabilitation strategy for affected areas. Please support our emergency efforts in Myanmar today. With you by our side, we will make a huge difference to the men, women and children who are in such desperate need. Yours faithfully, Robert W. Radtke President