Relief trickles in as death toll soars in Myanmar

In the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, the death toll is climbing and the estimate of homeless has risen to nearly two million.
Amidst reports that the ruling military junta had seized humanitarian aid, a ray of hope shone forth when a U.S. relief flight was allowed to land, on Monday, May 12.
The plane, reportedly carrying 3,300 gallons of water, mosquito netting and blankets, was allowed to land and unload, but the military personnel on board were not granted visas.
They included Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, who was reportedly on the flight in an attempt to meet with the ruling generals. Keating is quoted as saying the U.S. could provide a “long, continuous chain of flights” that could provide as much as 200,000 pounds of relief supplies daily.
Despite allowing a trickle of the promised $187 million in international relief aid, the regime has not approved more than a handful of the dozens of visa requests from the U.N. and other recognized relief groups.
Thus far, the regime has agreed to only three landings by the C-130 military transport planes, and just a handful of other relief flights.
The first boat carrying Red Cross relief supplies for 1,000 people hit a submerged tree in the Irawaddy River on Sunday, May 11 and sank. The crew and relief workers escaped.
France has a ship standing offshore, but will not entrust its relief supplies to the regime. They have hinted at seeking a U.N. resolution authorizing relief efforts without the government’s permission under a “responsibility to protect” doctrine, according to reports.
As of Sunday, the government put the death toll at 23,350 and 37,019 missing. International health experts are placing the toll at over 63,000 dead and say that death total could surpass 100,000 if relief efforts are not allowed to combat the storm’s aftermath.
Congress is calling on the regime to accept help from the outside world.
A resolution sponsored by Queens Congressmember Joseph Crowley extending the nation’s condolences and assistance to the Burmese people is before the House of Representatives.
“Every day the Burmese people are facing an increasingly widespread humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of last weekend’s deadly cyclone,” Crowley said.
Focusing on humanitarian concerns, Crowley said, “In this time of tragedy, it is important to show the people of Burma that the United States extends our deepest sympathies and that we will do everything possible to assist their recovery efforts.”
The storm, Cyclone Negris, swept along the low-lying coast of the Irawaddy River Delta, and ravaged Yangon (Rangoon) the historic capital of the country on Friday May 2 through Saturday May 3, sending a 12-foot wall of water miles inland and sweeping away whole villages.
The resultant devastation has virtually wiped out the country’s agricultural heartland, leaving a substantial portion of the population without food or clean drinking water. Reports say that days after the storm, bodies lie rotting in the countryside, and the risk of disease is climbing.
The country became part of the British Empire during the mid 19th century, became a self-governing member of the Commonwealth in 1937 and achieved full independence in 1948.
A general, Ne Win, dominated the government starting in 1962, and the country has been under virtual or actual military rule ever since. Despite an overwhelming electoral loss in 1990 to a pro-democracy opposition, the military refused to relinquish power, keeping Burma in a virtual lock-down.
Constitutional elections scheduled for Saturday, May 10, went ahead in all but the devastated areas, where they were postponed. Soldiers and government workers voted early, in their barracks or offices; everyone voted in front of their superiors.
Largely viewed as a sham by outside observers, the document, a product of 15 years of official machinations, has already passed.
The Constitution reserves 25 percent of seats in the legislature for the military and gives them control of some ministries and the power to take control during emergencies. Burmese who have married foreigners are prohibited from holding office.
In the meantime, throughout the countryside, relief workers are attempting to clear roads of enormous trees with hand-axes and two-man saws.
In the stricken areas, the food ration is reportedly one cup of rice a day, per family, and there is no clean drinking water.
Crowley’s resolution treats the situation in the most delicate terms. He, the American Red Cross (ARC) and many other relief agencies are calling on the American people to contribute money to relief efforts, in the hope that the human tragedy in Burma will overcome the fear of “outside contamination” by the commanders of the country.
The Greater New York ARC is accepting financial gifts to help cyclone victims. Checks should be made payable to the “American Red Cross International Response Fund – Myanmar” and can be mailed to:
American Red Cross in Greater New York
520 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10019.