SINGAPORE : The Singapore Red Cross will send three liaison officers to Myanmar on Tuesday.

This is possible as it has just got visas for them to enter the country.

Fast Facts

It expects clearance for a separate group of medical personnel to be ready soon.

As the death toll mounts in Myanmar following Cyclone Nargis, other problems have surfaced such as the urgent need for clean drinking water, and the threat of water—borne diseases.

And that is where portable water purification systems can help.

The Singapore Red Cross has 10 sets, and hopes to send them over to the affected areas soon.

Each set comes in a subsidised price of US$500, with the original price being US$800.

Aside from water, food and shelter are also top priorities.

Christopher Chia, Secretary—General, Singapore Red Cross Society, said, "We’ve already prepared 1,000 tents. These are tents that can accommodate 20 people. And once we’ve got the clearance to send it to Myanmar, we’ll send it there. As for food, we’ve also bought ready—to—eat meals. There’re about 35,000 packs of ready—to—eat meals."

And an unexpected phone call during Channel NewsAsia’s interview informed Mr Chua that visas for an advance party had just been granted.

Papers for Red Cross medical aid workers are being processed.

The three—man advance team will leave for Yangon on Tuesday.

They will arrange the logistics with their Myanmar counterparts, paving the way for the medical personnel.

Once there, the medical team will also take charge of aid supplies from Singapore, working with the Myanmar Red Cross to distribute them to the disaster zones.

To date, the Singapore Red Cross has received over S$540,000 in donations, exceeding its original target of half a million dollars.

And with over two weeks left to raise funds, it continues to welcome any amount of donation from the public, so long as they are made out in cheque, or are in cash.

Offers of help from Singaporeans have also poured in since news of Cyclone Nargis first broke.

The government has also sent over US$200,000 worth of aid supplies.

And speaking to MediaCorp’s "Frontline" programme, Myanmar Ambassador Win Myint expressed his country’s appreciation.

But some feel that aid should be allowed into the disaster areas sooner.

Myanmar authorities have so far not allowed any foreign aid workers in.

And one group of Myanmar nationals has handed a petition to the American Embassy, asking for aid workers to be sent in, regardless of permission from the authorities.

Channel NewsAsia understands the Myanmar Foreign Minister will meet his ASEAN counterparts in Singapore on May 19, to discuss how best the regional body can help.

Also on the agenda is the setting up of a coordinating mechanism by the Myanmar government to distribute aid effectively. — CNA/ms