Myanmar Told to Open Doors for Cyclone Aid
Posted on: Thursday, 8 May 2008, 03:00 CDT
The U.N. secretary-general joined other leaders in asking the Myanmar junta to accept cyclone aid being offered amid fears the death toll could top 100,000.
The United Nation's Ban Ki-moon urged the military junta in Myanmar to respond to the outpouring of international support and solidarity by facilitating the arrival of aid workers, and the clearance of relief supplies in every way possible, the U.N. News Center reported.
The report said the secretary-general's appeal came as initial estimates suggested that in addition to the tens of thousands of dead and several thousands missing, up to 1 million people in the poor Southeast Asian nation are homeless.
Ban welcomed the latest news that some U.N. aid officials would be allowed into Myanmar Thursday, the report said.
The five most severely hit areas account for 24 million of Myanmar's total population of 57 million.
Time is of the essence and we are already reaching storm victims with food, World Food Program Josette Sheeran said.
The Democratic Voice of Burma quoted residents in the former capital Yangon as saying the government is selling food to cyclone victims but at exorbitant prices the destitute survivors cannot afford.
The report quoted one resident as saying we can only sit back and watch as we have no money at all to buy these things.
China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported Myanmar's government, non-governmental groups and individuals are now involved in the recovery effort, led by Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein. The report said four infantry divisions are also assisting.
Source: United Press International
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds