RELIEF SLOW: As the death toll from Cyclone Nargis climbs to 32,000, a U.S. relief plane is finally allowed to land.

Yesterday a U.S. military C-13 cargo plane carrying 14 tons of supplies landed in Yangon, Myanmar. Medecins Sans Frontieres and Medecins du Monde have managed to get in 56 tons of medical supplies. But the military based junta that runs Myanmar continues to show an alarming reluctance to allow aid into the country.

United States Poised to Help

Timothy J. Keating, commander of the U.S. military in the Pacific, accompanied the supplies aboard the C-13. He stressed that the U.S. Navy has plenty of expertise providing relief to countries suffering from natural disasters. Since the military has been conducting its annual Cobra Gold military exercises in Thailand, its ships are just 36 hours away from Myanmar’s southwest coast.

Keating also said U.S. Marines, six C-130s and a large number of helicopters were "ready to go forward as soon as the Burmese give us permission."(Herald Tribune, 5/12/08) The Marines could bring in 200,000 pounds of aid daily. And they could distribute it quicker and more effectively than the Myanmar military, with its aging 40 helicopters and 15 small transport planes.

Most Refugees Still Waiting for Help

Cyclone refugees face hardships, largely because of their government’s unwillingness to work with aid organizations. At this point:

• Relief at 10% of what’s needed
• Only 20% of food getting into the country
• Bottlenecks getting supplies out of Yangon
• Aid reaching less than one-third of those in need
• Refugee camps nothing but gathering places—no needed supplies
• Rainy season a month away—current rice crop needs to be dried and new crop planted

Original Story

Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Worsens (update 1)

Copyright © 2009 Informify

Sources

Cyclone Toll Raised to Nearly 32,000 (NY Times, 5/13/08)

US airlifts aid to Myanmar, UN urges junta to cooperate (Associated Press, 5/12/08)

US sends in first aid, awaits green light on bigger Myanmar role (Herald Tribune, 5/12/08)

Question for Readers:

Why do you think the Myanmar government refuses help getting food and medical supplies to its people?