MILLWOOD — A humanitarian aid group based in Clarke County may send workers and supplies to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar earlier this month.

Project HOPE is doing contingency planning for possible deployment to provide humanitarian assistance-disaster relief support to the country, also known as Burma, according to an organization press release.

The operation would be similar to Project HOPE's mission to Indonesia in 2005 to help victims of the tsunami. Volunteers would be sent in 30-day rotations in areas of primary care, surgical, ancillary, nursing and nursing education services.

Project HOPE is waiting for approval from U.S. officials based on the Burmese government's authorization to let assistance into the country. Group officials said they hope to have a decision on the mission no later than Friday. Deployment from home station would occur in early June, according to Project HOPE's Web site.

For the Burma mission, organizers are seeking people with skills in physician specialties, internal medicine, family practitioner, pediatric surgeon, general surgeon, plastic surgeon and obstetrician/gynecologist. Other provider specialties include physician assistant, pediatric nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife and adult nurse practitioner. The group is also seeking veterinarians, optometrists, pharmacists, environmental health officers and X-ray technicians, among others.

Individuals may contribute to Project HOPE's Myanmar relief efforts and other initiatives by making donations online. The group will work with other relief-based nongovernmental organizations to deliver the aid gathered.

Visit Project HOPE on the Web at www.projhope.org for more information on how to donate or to volunteer.

Daily Staff Report