Myanmar junta hands out aid boxes with generals' names
A total of 23 international agencies were providing aid to people in the devastated areas, said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Byrs said another U.N. flight with 33 tons of plastic sheets, water and sanitation items and mosquito nets got clearance to take off from Brindisi, Italy later on Saturday.
But a large number of organizations still were awaiting government clearance for more aid shipments, staff and transport.
"It's a race against the clock," Byrs said. "If the humanitarian aid does not get into the country on a larger scale, there's the risk of a second catastrophe," she said, adding that people could die from hunger and diseases.
Health experts have warned there was a great risk of diarrhea and cholera spreading because of the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation.
Farmaner suggested that aid be delivered to the country, also known as Burma, even if the regime does not give its permission.
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Member Comments
Posted By: nyeinc @ 05/08/2008 12:04:59 PM
Comment: Is it possible for US to send its aid in civilian aircraft instead of military ones? France attempted to invoke UN???s responsibility-to-protect clause, which more or less mean invasion. I am sure that the Burmese government leaders want help and relief materials from anyone, even U.S. However, it appears that the Burmese government certainly doesn???t want any foreign military units (be it carrying relief supplies) into the country. So, given the three factors ??? its historical stand of no foreign military units in the country, the France???s attempt to invoke UN???s responsibility-to-protect clause and the US???s regime change strategy, the Burmese military is not going to allow American military aircrafts, be it, carrying relief supplies into the country. Is it possible for US to send its aid in civilian aircraft instead of military ones?
Posted By: nyeinc @ 05/08/2008 11:54:25 AM
Comment: According to the official accounts -- as of 2:30 New York Time, May 6, 2008 ??? 22, 464 people died and 41, 054 people are missing. Why is the death toll so high? The storm water surged over 12 feet. The houses in the delta region of my country are used to flooding and are constructed to cope with, say, 5-6 feet but not 12 feet. The bamboo and wooden houses can cope with 120 mile per hour wind, certainly NOT.
Posted By: powin @ 05/07/2008 6:17:59 PM
Comment: It would be a boon if the Bush Administration provided aid to the United Nations knowing that our money is going to a reputable agency. In short, I can't understand why India's meteorological warning wasn't heeded. The Burmese would have had two days to reach higher land. NASA, NOAA and the NRO could also have given adequate warning and provided information about response to the cyclone. In time, this will pass, but I pause to ponder why? This is tragic.