Myanmar junta hands out aid boxes with generals' names
Officials have said only one out of 10 people who are homeless, injured or threatened by disease and hunger have received some kind of aid since the cyclone hit May 3.
The government's abilities are limited. It has only a few dozen helicopters, most of which are small and old. It also has about 15 transport planes, primarily small jets unable to carry hundreds of tons of supplies.
"Not only don't they have the capacity to deliver assistance, they don't have experience," said Farmaner, the British aid worker. "It's already too late for many people. Every day of delays is costing thousands of lives."
(This version CORRECTS Corrects number of UN planes arriving Saturday to 2 sted 3.)
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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.