After the Myanmar government opened its doors to foreign aid for help with recovery efforts after a devastating cyclone, Israel has decided to send aid teams to the Southeast Asian country, including one from the Foreign Ministry.

The government of Myanmar did a basic assessment of the current needs of its people and then appealed to the UN, which has also assessed the situation, with a list of the country's current needs.

The IsrAid organization, which sends help to foreign countries in need, will be sending to Myanmar a highly trained search-and-rescue team and a 10-member team of doctors and nurses. The teams will bring with them crucial supplies, including plastic sheeting, food, household appliances and water filters.

"We believe that we need to go into the field and help the people. We cannot just send supplies, as the price for transporting supplies is very costly," said IsrAid head Shachar Zahavi.

"The tickets are purchased and the visas are being prepared, and will be given to us this Wednesday morning by the ambassador," said Zahavi.

Zahavi is sure the Israeli aid teams will make Israel proud and provide vital assistance to the distressed situation in Myanmar.

"Upon speaking to the Israeli Foreign Ministry I am positive that in Myanmar there will be an Israeli flag flying high," he said.

A spokesman from the Myanmar Embassy in Tel Aviv said it was very thankful to the Israeli government and the different organizations that have provided money and other aid to help in the desperate situation.

The London-based World Jewish Relief (WJR), a charity that channels the British Jewish community's response to international disasters, launched an emergency appeal on Tuesday to raise critical funds for the Burmese victims of Saturday's cyclone.

With an urgent need for plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking equipment, mosquito nets, health kits and food, WJR's emergency appeal said it would fund projects selected by the charity, working closely with partner organizations on the ground to channel funds efficiently and directly.

"The terrifying cyclone has left a trail of disaster in its wake and the scale of need is overwhelming," said WJR chief executive Paul Anticoni. "WJR is proud to be in a position to call on the Jewish community to help us to support the survivors of this catastrophe."

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