Project Report Myanmar: Emergency Fund for Children and Families in need, the Sonne Social Organization (SSO)

published on 27 November 2024

With the Emergency Fund for Children and Families in need, the 'Sonne Social Organization' (SSO) can quickly and unbureaucratically help the poorest of the poor here in Myanmar, the residents of the slums, in orphanages, and refugee camps (IDP Camps) when medical or humanitarian aid is needed.

With the donation of 2,500 Euros that we were able to hand over to the Sonne Social Organization (SSO), thousands of people here in Myanmar were helped during the action period from June 4, 2024, to October 11, 2024. The activities funded by the foundation are divided into:

41 percent medical assistance through our "Mobile Health Camps" and covering the costs of surgeries and emergency medical care, and
59 percent humanitarian aid – assistance for flood victims, rice distribution in refugee camps, and subsidies for the repair of slum dwellings destroyed by storms

Together with Lynn Thaw Oo (Yangon office), I was personally on-site to get a firsthand look at the organization's work. It was impressive to see the remarkable work being done. Please find more information as below:

Medical Assistance:

eight children or their parents were treated in the hospital for severe fever (Dengue), back injuries, burns, and ulcers. Thanks to our help, they are all doing better now and are no longer in inpatient care. If any problems arise again, SSO will continue to be there for the patients
four "Mobile Health Camps" were conducted, where doctors and nurses, along with boxes of equipment and medicine, traveled to the slums (once), orphanages (once), and refugee camps (twice) to help people who are cut off from any medical care. These people, especially children, pregnant women, and the elderly, suffer from extreme heat or flooding and wet conditions during the rainy season. During the hot season (October-May), major problems include weakness, overheating, heat rashes, and dehydration. During the rainy season (June-September), major problems include infections, rashes, Dengue fever, and infectious diseases, especially because people/children often live in very cramped conditions, particularly in slums and orphanages. Since SSO staff usually have a rough idea of what to expect, they can plan accordingly with medicine and other (bandage) materials and instruments. Each "Health Camp" examines and diagnoses 50-100 people by the organization's doctors, and in serious cases, further treatment by a specialist or in a hospital is arranged by our trained staff. In the four "Mobile Health Camps" supported by the Rödl Employee Foundation for Children's Aid, over 250 people were treated (150 in refugee camps, 60 in the orphanage, 50 in the slum)
Additionally, medicine was purchased, and doctors and transportation costs were paid

Humanitarian Aid:

three dwellings in the slums were repaired so that the residents could survive the rainy season relatively unscathed and dry.
Additionally, rice (mainly, as it is the most important), dry noodles, drinking water, electrolyte powder, and dry biscuits were purchased and distributed (partly during the "Mobile Health Camps" and partly separately) to the residents of refugee camps, flood areas, and orphanages. In total, there were 18 actions – roughly estimated, this helped about 3,000 people.

The team of the Sonne Social Organization (SSO) – with Jochen Meissner as our contact person – has wholeheartedly thanked us and everyone involved. With our contribution, we were able to achieve a lot for many innocent people in need in Myanmar.

Best regards from Yangon, Myanmar!