Aid in Myanmar Not Enough

Myanmar's ruling government will allow foreign aid into their country to
help the 2.5 million suffering from the recent cyclone on May 2nd and 3rd.
Though no aid will be accepted from U.S., French or British military ships
because Myanmar's junta fears political invasion or interference. Recent
criticism has surfaced in Myanmar of Western nations attempting to turn
their country into a neo-colony.

Most of the aid will come from Asian countries for now, including China and
India. The government has allowed medical teams from 10 neighboring
countries that are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to
distribute supplies and survey the scene for what’s needed. According to the
Pentagon, planes carrying 480 tons of relief supplies were permitted into
Yangon but haven't been permitted directly to needed areas.

U.N. Spokeswoman in Bangkok said foreign aid seekers were seeing some
progress in terms of pipelines starting to come through but insists the aid
given so far isn't nearly enough. U.N.'s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met
Friday with the country's junta leader Senior General Than Shwe, attempting
to convince him of the pressing matter at hand. The United Nations and the
whole international community stand ready to help you overcome this
tragedy, Ban stated to the general.

But the junta leader did not respond kindly and simply reiterated he and his
army could handle it themselves. The government even went so far as to block
visas for foreign disaster management experts.

Because of the junta's resistance to aid, France has questioned labeling
their resistance as crimes of humanity and was ready to push for a U.N.
resolution that would authorize delivery by all means necessary.² Aid
agencies from western countries are preparing boats, vessels and supplies to
deliver as soon as they're able.

The death toll from the devastating natural disaster is now 78,000 with
another 56,000 still missing. The economic damage is estimated around 11
billion.