In the wake of cyclone Nargis, nearly 2.5 million Burmese face starvation, dehydration and life-threatening disease. Women and children are especially at risk, comprising more than half of the victims in the region. International response to cyclone Nargis has been met with opposition by the military junta in Burma, while China has blocked the UN Security Council on actions necessary to move forward.  The Nobel Women's Initiative urges world leaders to respond to this urgent matter so that the survivors of the cyclone receive life-saving humanitarian aid in an expedient manner.

We encourage you to support efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches  survivors of cyclone Nargis. If you choose to support another worthy organization, we encourage you to support ones that have an on-the-ground presence or connections inside the country, such as:

Peaceful protests by Burmese pro-democracy activists and Buddhist monks and nuns have come under brutal attack by the ruling junta. The uprising, which was spurred by a massive rise in fuel prices on August 15, 2007, has fueled an already vibrant national movement for democracy. Protestors peaceful actions are in full accordance with their fundamental right to free speech. The arbitrary detention, violent attacks and overt intimidation by the military regime cannot be condoned. Yet China, a member of the United Nations Security Council and host of the 2008 Olympic Games, continues to provide Burma with economic and military support.

Take action. Tell the Chinese government that you stand with the Burmese protestors and against any government that continues to support the brutal Burmese regime sign the petition on avaaz.org.