GENERALS MEET: Myanmar’s Senior General Than Shwe invited United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Myanmar this week. Will Ban convince the Myanmar government to allow more international aid in to the country?

Cyclone Nargis: Quick Facts

So far Myanmar’s secretive military regime has kept a tight control on how many visas are issued to international aid workers. For the few who have been allowed in, their movements are carefully restricted. Except for a few exceptions, food, water and supplies are usually required to be left at the airport in Yangon.

U.S. Naval ships containing food, water and supplies are stationed off-shore, waiting for approval to deliver the aid. So far Myanmar’s government has refused.

Slow Progress for International Aid

Persistent international pressure on Myanmar’s government appears to be working—slowly. On Monday Myanmar’s regime agreed to accept aid and emergency personnel from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Myanmar is a member of ASEAN.

Tuesday, Secretary General Ban informed the media that the Myanmar junta will allow nine UN helicopters to deliver aid and provide emergency transportation in remote areas of Myanmar. The helicopters will arrive in Myanmar today.

Although these concessions are improvements, Ban reminds the public that only about 25% of those who need aid are receiving any.

Ban to Pressure Myanmar Government

Ban’s primary objective during his visit? Increase aid to Cyclone Nargis’ survivors. This will undoubtedly be the main subject when Ban and Senior General Than Shwe meet on Thursday. Ban will also tour areas of Myanmar that were damaged in the storm and verify that UN efforts there are being managed properly.

Ban and other UN personnel will join representatives of ASEAN countries at a donors’ conference in Yangon on Sunday. During the conference, the group will discuss how best to work with Myanmar’s government in delivering aid to the hundreds of thousands who have been left without food or shelter.

Myanmar’s government has refused any offers of aid that include requests to allow foreign relief workers in to the country to verify how the aid is being used.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan indicated that Myanmar’s generals need to be more flexible and allow donors to verify how their aid is being used. "Accessibility is important to guarantee confidence and verify the damage and needs, otherwise confidence during pledging will be affected.” (Reuters, 5/21/08)

Original Story

Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Worsens (update 4)

Copyright © 2008 Informify

Sources

U.N. chief to Myanmar: focus on saving lives (Washington Post/Reuters, 5/21/08)

Cyclone-hit Myanmar seeks $11 bln in aid - ASEAN (Reuters, 5/21/08)

UN's Ban says will meet Myanmar junta leader (AFP, 5/21/08)

U.N. chief to meet with Myanmar junta leader (CNN, 5/21/08)

Question for Readers:

Do you think the military leaders of Myanmar are out of touch with the scale of the disaster, or are they just trying to hold on to power?