Friday, May 09, 2008

Burma/Myanmar government refuses aid workers

The government of Burma only cares about its control of its country. It is refusing workers who bring aid and has confiscated aid brought to the country. UN halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies: YANGON, Myanmar (AP)—The United Nations blasted Myanmar's military government Friday, saying its refusal to let in foreign aid workers to help victims of a devastating cyclone was "unprecedented" in the history of humanitarian work. While the junta dithered and appeared overwhelmed by last Saturday's disaster, more than 1 million homeless people waited for food, shelter and medicine. Many crammed into Buddhist monasteries or just camped out in the open. Entire villages were submerged in the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta, with bodies floating in salty water and children ripped from their parents' arms. At least 62,000 people are dead or missing, state media reported, and aid groups warned that thousands of children may have been orphaned and the area is on the verge of a medical disaster. ... "Believe me the government will not allow outsiders to go into the devastated area. The government only cares about its own stability. They don't care about the plight of the people," said Yangon food shop owner Joseph Kyaw, one of many residents angry at the regime for doing little to help them recover from the storm's destruction.

1 comment:

Heidi said...

The more I read and hear about this, the more angry I become. I heard a story on NPR implying that not enough money was being donated to help cyclone victims because there weren't enough heartbreaking pictures and news coverage. They were saying it's too bad the junta won't let Western photojournalists in so that Americans and others would donate. No, it's too bad they won't let aid and aid workers in unconditionally! If they won't do that, we'd be idiots to donate and prop up their regime!