Local charities are partnering with organizations in Myanmar and China to help the victims of the recent natural disasters there.

"We're lucky that we already have established a conduit support that is already on the ground (in Myanmar, also known as Burma), where political restraints hamper other relief organizations," Kathy Smyser, public relations officer for American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley, said.

The American Red Cross works through the International Red Cross to coordinate with the Myanmar Red Cross, she said.

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Smyser said they are not able to solve all of the issues of getting aid to the people in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar who need it, but they are helping.

China faces a similar situation after its massive earthquake Monday, Smyser said, only there is no government roadblock. The China Red Cross already has made an official request for help so it receives aid as it learns what its needs are, she said.

"The Chinese Red Cross is very well-equipped to meet the disaster until this point," she said. "But this is quite a magnitude of disaster and will need assistance."

Smyser said people who wish to donate may designate that their funds go to Myanmar or China, but the Red Cross does not encourage such designations. Rather, it requests donations be made to its International Response Fund so funds can be used as needed, "especially with the uncertainty of the Myanmar government."

Smyser said the Red Cross believes it has raised enough funds to help with the recent tornadoes in the southern United States.

"We have quite a few volunteers on the scene. But with the tornado season here, there likely will be more, so we're on alert," she said.

Two local Red Cross volunteers also have gone to Maine to help with flooding victims there, she said.

Donations by check can be sent to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4624, Lancaster, PA 17604. People who wish to donate by credit card should call 299-5561 or go to www.sqvalleyredcross.org.

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Mennonite Central Committee's associate director for its Asia program, Tom Wenger, said he visited Myanmar last month.

"It's a beautiful country," Wenger said. "The people are gracious and lovely. They are a diverse group, with several ethnic groups, who are deeply committed to build the nation to make it a better place."

But the cyclone has "made a bad situation worse," he said.

The cyclone struck the "most vulnerable part of the country," its low river delta land, and swept inland, killing more than 43,000 people, according to local government estimates, and devastating the area where 60 percent of its rice is grown, Wenger said.

Had the cyclone made landfall at a different angle, from the north or the south, it would have hit hills or islands instead, minimizing its effects, he said.

Now meeting basic needs is troublesome because communication is difficult — phone lines are down, the Internet is limited and electricity is usually off, Wenger said.

"We've worked hard to set up relief camps, health and medical teams and distributing water and shelter supplies," he said.

MCC has launched an appeal seeking $200,000 to support critical needs in Myanmar, particularly clean water and shelter. Half of these funds have already been allocated to specific efforts:

• $35,000 to Metta, a relief and development organization based in Myanmar, which is providing rice, medicine and other items to more than 68,000 people.

• $30,000 to Hope International, which is distributing emergency supplies and providing medical treatment to cyclone survivors through mobile health teams. As of Monday, its medical teams had treated 2,000 people.

• $20,000 to Church World Service to help provide water containers and water-purification equipment in 1,000 locations. Thirteen villages had been reached by Monday.

• $15,000 to IDE-Myanmar, a partner organization that is distributing water containers, water pumps and plastic sheeting. MCC also is applying for funds from Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help IDE-Myanmar restore water systems that were damaged or destroyed by the cyclone.

MCC also is monitoring and assessing needs in China and has committed $20,000 for relief there, Wenger said.

Contributions designated China Emergency Assistance or Myanmar Emergency Assistance can be made by going to www.mcc.org/donate or stopping by MCC's East Coast office, 21 S. 12th St., Akron.

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The best way to help others in the event of crises like the Myanmar cyclone and the China earthquake is to "go with organizations you have dealt with in the past and ones you trust," Smyser said.

Smyser said Pennsylvania has a Web site, www.dos.state.pa.us/char/site/default.asp, that lists registered charities.

Another Web site, www.charitynavigator.org, ranks charities, giving its version of a "Good Housekeeping seal of approval," Smyser said. It also lists known charities helping in certain disasters.

If you are solicited by a charity, Smyser said, "It is perfectly all right to ask for their credentials and phone number and call them back" to make certain it is a legitimate phone number and charity.

The American Red Cross does not solicit, but Smyser said she expects that could change at some point because of the severity of the two recent disasters and their as-yet unknown human toll. "If there has been more affected than has been reported," she said, "the need will go up."

Tips for giving in times of crisis, according to the Charity Navigator, include:

• Give to an established charity and avoid unproven charities created specifically to deal with new crises. If you feel compelled to give to a new charity, be sure to get proof the group is a registered public charity with 501(c)(3) status.

• Designate your gift. That way, you'll ensure your donation is used as you intend.

• Avoid telemarketers. Be wary of fundraisers who pressure you to make a contribution over the phone, and never divulge your credit card information to someone who does.

• Research and follow up. Take the time to find a charity you can trust and be sure to check back in a few months to find out how your donation was put to use and if the organization needs additional support to complete its mission.

• Give online. The inherent speed of online giving provides instant gratification to donors and offers charities immediate access to much-needed funds.

E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com