Food Aid Flights Said Awaiting Permission to Enter Cyclone-Hit Burma
Posted on: Thursday, 8 May 2008, 12:00 CDT
Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo
Bangkok, May 8 Kyodo - The World Food Programme said Thursday evening it was still waiting for permission from Myanmar's [Burma] military government to transport food aid into the country, which was severely hit by tropical cyclone last weekend.
The WFP has chartered three aircraft in Dubai and Bangkok to carry a total of 45 tons of food aid from Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka to Yangon [Rangoon] in Myanmar where many hundred thousands of people were victims of the Cyclone Nargis.
But the planes, which were earlier expected to arrive in Yangon as early as Thursday morning, have not even left for Dhaka to load up the food aid in the absence of a green light from the junta, according to the WFP's office in Bangkok.
WFP spokesman Paul Risley said one flight, carrying 7 tons of high energy biscuits, has made it to Yangon. They were carried by commercial cargo from Bangkok on Thursday afternoon, he said.
At least 22,980 people were killed by the powerful cyclone that hit Myanmar's southwest, particularly the Ayeyarwaddy River delta region, Myanmar's state-run media reported Wednesday night. It said another 42,119 people were still unaccounted for.
US Charge d'Affaires Shari Villarosa said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday from her station in Myanmar that an international nongovernmental organization predicts the death toll from the cyclone will reach over 100,000.
On Wednesday, the United States offered an initial $3.25 million in assistance relief. A disaster relief team has been pre- positioned in Bangkok awaiting permission to enter Myanmar, according to the US Embassy in Bangkok.
International aid agencies have voiced frustration as they still wait for the Myanmar government to grant visas for teams of disaster response workers.
"The reluctance of the government of Myanmar to lift the restriction on the movement of commodities and international staff has not changed significantly," WFP said Wednesday in a statement.
The Chinese government on Thursday urged its ally Myanmar to fully cooperate with the international community so that more aid can reach the cyclone victims.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qing Gang told reporters, "We hope that Myanmar will cooperate with the international community and have consultations with the international community and that it will soon overcome the effects of the disaster."
China has so far pledged just under $3 million in disaster relief to Myanmar and has already sent the first consignment of aid, including tents and medicine, she said.
A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon released a statement Wednesday saying it was vital that Myanmar quickly allow in overseas relief supplies.
"Given the magnitude of this disaster, the secretary general urges the government of 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. This can significantly aid the government in responding to this tragedy," the statement said.
Thailand transported Tuesday some 9 tons of food and medical supplies to Myanmar by a military plane, while Thailand has also prepared to dispatch mobile healthcare teams to affected areas.
The Thai Red Cross has prepared thousands of sets of relief supplies while the governments of both Thailand and Malaysia have called for public donations to procure aid supplies for Myanmar.
Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1153 8 May 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds