Myanmar junta hands out aid boxes with generals' names
"We are working around the clock with the authorities to ensure the kind of access that we need to ensure it goes to people that need it most," WFP spokesman Marcus Prior said in Bangkok, Thailand.
Richard Horsey, a spokesman for U.N. humanitarian operations, said an international presence is needed in Myanmar to look at the logistics of getting boats, helicopters and trucks into the delta area.
"That's a critical bottleneck that must be overcome at this point," he said in Bangkok.
Heavy rain forecast in the next week was certain to exacerbate the misery. Diplomats and aid groups warned the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because of illnesses and said thousands of children may have been orphaned.
Survivors from one of the worst-affected areas, near the town of Bogalay, were among those fighting hunger, illness and wrenching loneliness.
"All my 28 family members have died," said Thein Myint, a 68-year-old fisherman who wept while describing how the cyclone swept away the rest of his family. "I am the only survivor."
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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.