New Zealand offers aid to help flood survivors in Myanmar

The New Zealand government is to give an initial 500,000 NZ dollars (328,650 U.S. dollars) to support the response to serious flooding in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Monday.

"Flash floods and landslides in Myanmar have affected more than 500,000 people across the country and there are reports of close to 100 fatalities," McCully said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with the people and government of Myanmar as they come to terms with this disaster and our funding will support the immediate humanitarian response to the flooding," he said.

The majority of the funds would go to the International Federation of the Red Cross to provide essential relief items and to the World Food Program to provide immediate food aid.

Up to 50,000 NZ dollars (32,865 U.S. dollars) would go to the New Zealand Embassy's Emergency Head of Mission Fund to provide practical support on the ground.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep the need for further assistance under review," McCully said.