It is not yet known the total number of people that we could have saved and cared for after Tropical Storm Nargis struck Burma Myanmar May 2008. What is known is that the ruling dictatorship has been and still is in total neglect of the needs most of Nargis victims. The victims were told to catch wild frogs by their leaders and to obey the constitution. One boy we cared for in Burma told me that he was sure that I came there to invade his country and steal his king. he had never met or seen an American in his life of 16 years and so I did my best to explain what we were about. I explained that I did not even know his king but I could do something about his hunger and his wounded arm if he would let me. The boy consented and I left him with only impression of an American or Western man that he may every have. Volunteer Medics Worldwide once again felt the need to form a team and work from our base in Thailand to do whatever we could do and can do to bring food, medicine and care to those seeking any kind of assistance during this suffering. We have sent aide directly by working with monks in several temples in borders areas with Burma. Rice was the number one request by those who were about to starve due to nonavailability of foods after the storm. Many brave medics, monks and everyday workers are risking their lives to cross the border in very dangerous river locations. We have managed to get food , money and medicine through the front door as well as some of us were given 14 day entry visas to enter Burma. These visas were only for tourism and we were told that we could not be involved in any other activities whilst in the country. We heard them but we could not obey that rule after seeing what just a few Euros and Dollars could do. Kra Buri, Rangon and Mae Sot have all been areas of our our operations and some fixed flights have made in and out of Burma without knowledge of the Burmese government. Muddy, insects and horrible heat face medics and support staff working in all of these areas and you have better know why you came here if you want be successful and survive whilst doing it. Working the the founders of the underground revolution has been one of the greatest joys a volunteer medic could know. Hearing their stories , seeing their scares and being able to assist them with direct aide ti their people and cause shall go down on this medic's list of finest moments during my volunteer service. In a temple near Mae Sot one of the largest Nargis victims assistance programs is active and manned 24 hours per day. Thousands of kilos of food and other items are delivered and distributed by this center. All working there are volunteers and do it because they have love and compassion for their fellow humans on the earth. All religions and backgrounds have been involved and there is no plan to shut down in the near future. We mostly get these assistance items into Burma without the government's approval or knowledge and that is how the aide ends up in the hands of those who need if most. I remember on night whilst sitting in the tall grass along the Kra Buri River and thinking that the world and the press would soon forget what has happened here in Burma but that we should never forget the people on both sides of these border who have struggled and suffered during this time. "Even the smallest of stones cast in the pond of life's effort creates a ripple" Gerald Scott Flint , "I know that I can not do everything and safe everyone therefore I must do what I can do to save as many as possible" Gerald Scott Flint , Founder and Director of Volunteer Medics Worldwide. www.volunteermedics.org Burma Disaster Team 2008