UN blasts Burmese generals over relief stance
- added May 13, 2008
- 1 response
-
-
-
- kushan
- added this
-
-
- related topics
-
- UN (155)
- Emergency Relief (43)
- Military Junta (28)
UN chief Ban Ki-moon and US President George W.Bush yesterday berated Burma's ruling junta over its slow response to the cyclone that has killed tens of thousands of people as a second US military plane carrying relief supplies left for the stricken country.
US military spokesman Douglas Powell confirmed a second marine cargo plane carrying 44,000kg of water, blankets and mosquito nets was en route to Burma and a third flight carrying more supplies would leave late yesterday.
The first US flight delivered relief material to Burma on Monday after prolonged negotiations with the country's ruling junta. Lieutenant Colonel Douglas said he expected flights would continue today - potentially opening the door for a massive relief operation.
Burma is deeply suspicious of the West, and considers the US - one of the most vocal critics of the military regime - its enemy.
While Burma's generals yesterday thanked the US for the initial planeload of supplies, they maintained their opposition to letting in foreign aid workers to cope with the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, quoted in the government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar newspaper, said the needs of hundreds of thousands of storm survivors "have been fulfilled to an extent".
"The donation will enhance friendship between the governments, armed forces and the peoples of the two countries," hesaid.
But he reiterated that Burma was not open to foreign aid workers - a stance that has provoked the wrath of the international community.
Yesterday, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban, expressed strong frustration at the situation after more than a week of mostly rebuffed efforts by the international community to persuade Burma's leaders to allow in international disaster relief teams and supplies.
"Today is the 11th day since typhoon Nargis hit Myanmar. I want to register my deep concern and immense frustration on the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis," Mr Ban told a news conference.
"I emphasise that this is not about politics. It is about saving lives. There is absolutely no more time to lose.
"We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis.
"I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the Government of Myanmar to put its people's lives first."
According to Burma state television, the death toll is 31,938 with another 29,770 still missing. The UN says more than 100,000 are likely to have been killed. Experts have warned that the relief effort is floundering with 1.5million cyclone survivors at grave risk from hunger and disease.
Mr Bush said "the world ought to be angry and condemn" the junta over its handling of the cyclone.
"Either they are isolated or callous," he told CBS radio.
US military spokesman Douglas Powell confirmed a second marine cargo plane carrying 44,000kg of water, blankets and mosquito nets was en route to Burma and a third flight carrying more supplies would leave late yesterday.
The first US flight delivered relief material to Burma on Monday after prolonged negotiations with the country's ruling junta. Lieutenant Colonel Douglas said he expected flights would continue today - potentially opening the door for a massive relief operation.
Burma is deeply suspicious of the West, and considers the US - one of the most vocal critics of the military regime - its enemy.
While Burma's generals yesterday thanked the US for the initial planeload of supplies, they maintained their opposition to letting in foreign aid workers to cope with the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, quoted in the government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar newspaper, said the needs of hundreds of thousands of storm survivors "have been fulfilled to an extent".
"The donation will enhance friendship between the governments, armed forces and the peoples of the two countries," hesaid.
But he reiterated that Burma was not open to foreign aid workers - a stance that has provoked the wrath of the international community.
Yesterday, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban, expressed strong frustration at the situation after more than a week of mostly rebuffed efforts by the international community to persuade Burma's leaders to allow in international disaster relief teams and supplies.
"Today is the 11th day since typhoon Nargis hit Myanmar. I want to register my deep concern and immense frustration on the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis," Mr Ban told a news conference.
"I emphasise that this is not about politics. It is about saving lives. There is absolutely no more time to lose.
"We are at a critical point. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's current crisis.
"I therefore call in the most strenuous terms on the Government of Myanmar to put its people's lives first."
According to Burma state television, the death toll is 31,938 with another 29,770 still missing. The UN says more than 100,000 are likely to have been killed. Experts have warned that the relief effort is floundering with 1.5million cyclone survivors at grave risk from hunger and disease.
Mr Bush said "the world ought to be angry and condemn" the junta over its handling of the cyclone.
"Either they are isolated or callous," he told CBS radio.
-
Myanmar has agreed to accept more aid from the United States to assist the victims of a devastating cyclone.
The Myanmar government said about 62,000 people are dead or missing. The United Nations suggests that number may actually be closer to 100,000.
The relief efforts are global, and the Burmese American Association of Texas has mobilized in Houston and is ready to help.
"It's really huge, and we cannot do it alone," Myo Thane said. "The Burmese people cannot do it alone, and the government, the Burmese government, cannot do it alone. So as a Houstonian, living in Houston, we are starting out locally."
Login/Registration is required to add a response.
