Storms ripped through southern Burma Friday, May 16 increasing the suffering of an area still reeling from a deadly cyclone which left as many as 2.5 million people destitute.
The UN reported Friday, May 16, that it believes far too little food is reaching cyclone victims in Burma's delta area.
But due to a ban put in place on foreigners visiting the region by Burma's military junta, the extent of the suffering remains unknown.
The Burmese government has been blamed by the international community for worsening the situation by restricting foreign aid to the southwestern part of the country, which was most badly hit by flooding. Yet aid groups have withheld sharp Doubts About Burma Aid Stymie German Fundraising Efforts ...
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"Relations between Myanmar and the international community are difficult," Louis Michel, the EU's humanitarian aid commissioner, told Reuters. "But that is not my problem. The time is not for political discussion. It's time to deliver aid to save lives."
Extreme food shortages feared
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Foreign aid is trickling in to Burma The UN World Food Program believes that 390 tons of food are needed each day. Yet less than 300 tons have been distributed since Cyclone Nargis hit Burma's delta area on May 2. At least 43,000 people were killed by the cyclone and 28,000 are missing.
In the weeks since, the ruling military junta has refused to allow most foreign nationals into the Irrawaddy Delta region, insisting that aid will be handled internally.
The European Union's aid chief is among those waiting to gain access to the delta region.
International pressure continues
A top UN official for humanitarian affairs will travel to Burma on Sunday, May 18, in a bid to convince the country's leaders to allow access for UN relief workers. And Burma's southeast Asian neighbors will meet in Singapore Monday to discuss donations.
Yet officials of the various UN agencies lacked the most basic data about the disaster Friday. It's unknown how many children have been orphaned, the extent of diseases or the number of refugee camps. There have been reports of cholera in the region, although the World Health Organization said it does not have evidence of an outbreak.
Myanmar reluctant to accept help
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Burma's military leaders have refused outside help The EU's Michel was in Burma this week, but said that as of Friday morning he had not received clearance to visit the cyclone area.
Michel said he had only been taken to "a rather perfect, organized camp" outside the main city of Yangon, far from the flooded delta region.
Michel spent two days in Burma, also known as Myanmar, trying to persuade the government to accept more foreign assistance.
Not only has the southwest of the country been off-limits to foreigners, but Burma officials have also barred international staff for aid agencies which already operate inside the country. Reports from aid groups say many survivors have still not received help.
The government has told him it is considering his request for additional visas for international aid workers, but Michel told the AFP news agency the government hasn't explained why the visas have not been granted.
"They didn't answer the question, and they did not give any reason," he said.
Situation not under control
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Important Buddhist temples were also damaged Burma told Michel that if aid groups want to increase their staffing levels in the country, they will need to provide a justification.
Michel said he was able to get two week visa extensions for EU staff currently in the country, although this was short of the four week extension he had hoped for.
Michel said he doesn't believe the regime can handle the cyclone aftermath on its own, or its claim that aid is reaching the survivors.
"They only pretend that everything is under control. They are of course happy with the aid that we are bringing," he told AFP, referring to the planes which have brought supplies.
(Deutsche Welle)
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