Aid Finally Allowed Into Battered Myanmar

First Plane Lands With Food For Cyclone Victims; U.S. Official Says May Be 100,000 Dead

(CBS/AP)  The U.N.'s World Food Program said Thursday one of its relief planes had landed in Myanmar as part of the first major international airlift of aid to cyclone victims.

A U.N. official said a plane from Italy arrived in Myanmar, and three more were to land later in the day. The official said the planes were bringing key relief items including high-energy biscuits and medical kits.

The planes had waited on the tarmac for the last two days to get the clearance from Myanmar's military junta to bring in relief supplies to the devastated Southeast Asian country. A top U.S. diplomat warned the death toll from Saturday's storm could climb to as many as 100,000 people.

CBS News reporter Celia Hatton said the most urgent danger for the millions left behind is the lack of fresh water, and the risk of disease spreading with dead bodies still littering fields in the hardest-hit regions.

Pressure mounted quickly Thursday morning as a U.N. official said the junta had not given clearance for relief flights to land.

Paul Risley, a spokesman for the U.N. World Food Program in Bangkok, old The Associated Press that the WFP is in "constant touch" with the military junta to obtain the flight clearance.

He said "it is especially frustrating that critically needed food aid is being held up."

Andrew Kirkwood, Save the Children's Burma director, was in the Yangon when the cyclone hit.

"It's hard to describe just how urgent the humanitarian need is at the moment," he told CBS Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. "I think that everybody was just completely amazed by the scale of the destruction."

Kirkwood, who has been delivering what assistance he can since the disaster struck, said "people in the worst affected regions right now, their absolute most urgent need is drinking water and food. Many people are still in areas that are inundated with saltwater, so fresh water is an absolute necessity.

The minutes of a U.N. aid meeting obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press revealed the military junta's visa restrictions were hampering international relief efforts.

Only a handful of U.N. aid workers had been let into the impoverished Southeast Asian country, which the government has kept isolated for five decades to maintain its iron-fisted control. The U.S. and other countries rushed supplies to the region, but most of it was being held outside Myanmar while awaiting the junta's permission to deliver it.

"They're suspicious of the motives of NGO's and the U.S. government and that is not going to change," said Hatton. "Also many people believe that the military regime wants to get political credit for distributing aid itself so it has asked for help but it wants to be seen as giving the aid directly to the people and it wants to be able to get the thanks from the Burmese people for doing so."

Meanwhile, the military government warned residents Thursday not to be duped by rumors of an impending earthquake, a second cyclone or looting.

The state media said that "unscrupulous persons are circulating rumors" in the wake of the devastating cyclone last weekend.

It said "do not believe in rumors. Help expose the rumormongers and inform the authorities if they hear of any rumors."

Hungry people swarmed the few open shops and fistfights broke out over food and water in Myanmar's swamped Irrawaddy delta Wednesday.

Entire villages in the Irrawaddy delta were still submerged from Saturday's storm, and bloated corpses could be seen stuck in the mangroves. Some survivors stripped clothes off the dead. People wailed as they described the horror of the torrent swept ashore by the cyclone.

"I don't know what happened to my wife and young children," said Phan Maung, 55, who held onto a coconut tree until the water level dropped. By then his family was gone.

A spokesman for the U.N. Children's Fund said its staff in Myanmar reported seeing many people huddled in rude shelters and children who had lost their parents.

"There's widespread devastation. Buildings and health centers are flattened and bloated dead animals are floating around, which is an alarm for spreading disease. These are massive and horrific scenes," Patrick McCormick said at UNICEF offices in New York.

Myanmar's state media said Cyclone Nargis killed at least 22,980 people and left 42,119 missing.

American diplomat Shari Villarosa, who heads the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, said the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because safe food and water were scarce and unsanitary conditions widespread.

The situation is "increasingly horrendous," she said in a telephone call to reporters. "There is a very real risk of disease outbreaks."

A few shops reopened in the Irrawaddy delta, but they were quickly overwhelmed by desperate people, said Paul Risley, a spokesman for the U.N. World Food Program in Bangkok, Thailand, quoting his agency's workers in the area.

"Fistfights are breaking out," he said.

A Yangon resident who returned to the city from the delta area said people were drinking coconut water because there was no safe drinking water. He said many people were on boats using blankets as sails.

Local aid groups distributed rice porridge, which people collected in dirty plastic shopping bags, he said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared getting into trouble with authorities for talking to a foreign news agency.

U.N. officials estimated some 1 million people had been left homeless in Myanmar, which also is known as Burma.

[swwils]

I think that it is time for all theses Billionaires,and multi-millionaires to boot up some cash.Some of these people (do I have to name them)have un Godly amounts of money,and I believe its time to pony up.Spend some of what you can''t take with you, and share it with the desperately needy here!

[nothappyatall]

I think that it is time for all theses Billionaires,and multi-millionaires to boot up some cash.
Posted by swwils

No, I think its time these squalling masses who overrun the environment practice BIRTH CONTROL and stop having so dam many babies they can''t manage to live without OUTSIDE help.
When these people continue to build and live on the water''s edge knowing full well these events will occur that is THEIR stupidity and THEIR problem.

Im tired of the U S bailing out idiots who build homes in areas that get tsunamis, violent quakes, volcanos, droughts or floods every year.

[samrensho]

U.N. Calls Myanmar A "Major Disaster"

Pretty astute observation. No wonder the top dogs get the big bucks.

[jennasmith2]

the bottom line is.....people are dead, more are dying and their gov''t is more concerned about it''s hold on political power than truly helping their own. It''s a sad state of affairs and I hope somehow medical help & food relief will make it to the people who really need it and not in some greedy persons warehouse.

[barbaraf4]

"Im tired of the U S bailing out idiots who build homes in areas that get tsunamis, violent quakes, volcanos, droughts or floods every year."Posted by newster1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I suppose we should include hurricanes too. Which puts New Orleans, most of Florida and pieces of the East Coast on the "not eligible" list.

[al2008-2009]

I%u2019m appalled at the administration%u2019s lack of response to the global warming hurricanes, and cyclones as well. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these cyclones, and mother earth continues to suffer while the administration refuses to go forward and do what%u2019s right for mother earth.
.
How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible plans into action? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope.
.
We the people call upon our leaders to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these cyclones and storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms cease. We need action now

[sistatee-2009]

God forbid the military junta runs out of food. They need their strength in order to repress the people.

[libh8er]

I call the UN a major disaster. As for Yanmar, let Allah save them.

[bm6005]

Im tired of the U S bailing out idiots who build homes in areas that get tsunamis, violent quakes, volcanos, droughts or floods every year.
Posted by newster1

Don''t forget those who live on coastal American shores, and while you''re at it along the Mississipi, California, in the forests, etc.

[truthyness]

Hillary Supporters, WATCH this tape, PLEASE..you won''t regret it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5W5PQ3_I

HILLARY''08

pass it on!!

[three-o-six]

What we need to control global warming is less human beings (ie less CO2) -- so quick turn the rescue boats around and let these people die!

[ubrew12]

newster1 said: "Im tired of the U S bailing out idiots who build homes in areas that get tsunamis, violent quakes, volcanos, droughts or floods every year."

It''s not alot of money considering how we would feel if we didn''t help out. Alot of these people in lowland delta''s are dirt-poor, no roads so they live near their rice fields, which are right on the delta. It supports alot of people but if a Cyclone hits the ''bulls-eye'' they all get hit by the 15 foot surge wave. Looks like that''s what happened.

[mjm121]

Posted by Libagenda:
God controls the weather, not human beings. He is in charge. The earth has gone through climate changes before. This is not the first time. Human beings and our finite selves in comparison to the Almighty are always thinking they can outsmart God.

______________

Jesus (no pun intended) get a grip on yourself and reality.

[lindaredtail]

This God did it stuff is a typical rightwing excuse. Some of it may have to do with global warming. When I lived in Missouri tornadoes (we were in 2) were about F2''s or smaller. These last few years they have become gigantic. Hurricanes are more frequent as well and larger. These people need help and they need it now.

[antoniof123]

I am so sick of you wing nuts blamming God.

[mjm121]

Sorry you can''''t handle the trip. God is the reality. He is in control.


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Posted by libagenda at 03:38 PM : May 07, 2008


God is YOUR reality. Not mine. He controls NOTHING in my life.

[mjm121]

God is YOUR reality. Not mine. He controls NOTHING in my life.



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Posted by mjm121 at 03:50 PM : May 07, 2008



I should re-phrase. I didn''t mean to speak of him as though he existed. God controls NOTHING in my life.

[mjm121]

Stating God controls the weather is a fact. He''''s always controlled the weather.

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Posted by libagenda at 03:42 PM : May 07, 2008


REALLY Libagenda? A fact? Really? Show me some proof.

[maharishi1]

BUSH DID IT!

IT WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO TAPE!

[maharishi1]

BUSH DID IT!

IT WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO TAPE!

[displeased]

Yeah libagenda, show some proof that this god of yours is the absolute truth and everybody else is wrong. You can''t. Your belief is a theory like everybody else''s.

[pollroller1]

Here is my belief regarding a god or other super natural being. I don''t believe that there is any super natural being looking down on this planet from some mystical place called heaven. What I do believe is that this planet and all of the universe is one living breathing thing. Our earth will do whatever needs to be done for it''s survival. If we over populate the planet or use too many resources or try to change the natural way that nature works. It will cause things to happen that will keep itself in balance.
That''s just one old man''s humble opinion.

[fibonacci_]

The truth is God controls the weather. How us humans react when we help each other in times of tragedy is what it''''s all about.

Posted by libagenda

Spoken like a true scientist.

[robstrck]

fibonacci

Does any other thought besides your attempt to debate God''s existence occupy your brain? Notice I didn''t call it a tiny brain, because I would not presume to know your true intelligence. I have seen your name come up in countless posts, all having to do with God. Who are you really trying to convince that there is no God?

[fibonacci_]

God despised every last one of these people. We cannot understand why. But God is all-good and all powerful. He especially hated the infants in that region.

[fibonacci_]

LOL robstrck. You have a fair question. I am just irritated by a world governed by irrational superstitions.

[genesis15-2009]

I should re-phrase. I didn''''t mean to speak of him as though he existed. God controls NOTHING in my life.


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Posted by mjm121

Don''t worry, you irrevelant. He is not trying to.

[robstrck]

fib, is Germany governed by irrational superstitious people?

[displeased]

I am just irritated by a world governed by irrational superstitions.
Posted by fibonacci

Especially when decisions that affect other people''s lives are based on these mythical beliefs.

[fibonacci_]

fib, is Germany governed by irrational superstitious people?

Posted by robstrck

Not as much as most countries but still quite a bit. Former East Germany has a very large atheist population, perhaps even a majority. And that is where I am presently living. The chancellors party though, is called the Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany). Surprisingly, she comes from the East.

[genesis15-2009]

Not as much as most countries but still quite a bit. Former East Germany has a very large atheist population, perhaps even a majority. And that is where I am presently living. The chancellors party though, is called the Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany). Surprisingly, she comes from the East.


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Posted by fibonacci

Hell, no wonder Hitler came to power. World War I was not necessarily one of your best moments either.

[fibonacci_]

genesis15:

One of my best moments?

[robstrck]

It seems most of Western Europe is becoming increasingly secular. Do you think that is a positive?

[fibonacci_]

It seems most of Western Europe is becoming increasingly secular. Do you think that is a positive?

Posted by robstrck

I see it as a positive sign, although the rise of Islamic extremism in a lot of Western European countries is alarming. What do you think robstrck?

[mjm121]

Hell, no wonder Hitler came to power. World War I was not necessarily one of your best moments either.


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Posted by genesis15 at 04:21 PM : May 07, 2008



Rarely will you see me stick up for fibonacci...but genesis15...this comment was pretty ignorant

[genesis15-2009]

What God ALLOWS and what God COMMANDS are two different things. I somewhat get the impression that if the latter had happened, there would have been NO SURVIVORS.

[fibonacci_]

There is just no evidence for that type of thinking genesis15. You are assuming that God exists when that is not a proven fact. In fact, there is not a single shred of scientific evidence to support that supposition.

[robstrck]

God despised every last one of these people. We cannot understand why. But God is all-good and all powerful. He especially hated the infants in that region.

Posted by fibonacci

**********

God did not despise every last one of those dead from the cyclone. They were not allowed to live as free people. They were kept down by a government that could care less. America had it right when the founding fathers wrote up the constitution. All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Those people were denied those opportunities by man.

[robstrck]

I see it as a positive sign, although the rise of Islamic extremism in a lot of Western European countries is alarming. What do you think robstrck?

Posted by fibonacci_

I believe that you can''t fight bad religion with no religion. Europe will be devoured.

[genesis15-2009]

Rarely will you see me stick up for fibonacci...but genesis15...this comment was pretty ignorant


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Posted by mjm121

Just as ignorant at how Hitler mesmerized and and fooled an entire nation at the expense of Jews. You know he needed someone to blame.

[fibonacci_]

I guess Burma is a highly religious country of mostly Buddhists.

I am not suggesting, by the way, that if a government is Atheist, that it is automatically more morally sound. Obviously history has shown that not to be true. All sorts of other factors come into play...life and social science are extremely complicated. But there is no logical pathway directly from atheism to murder, whereas with religion - if your God tells you to do something, or you believe your God wants you to do it (9/11), you can think you are doing something good when in fact your are just being a violent moron.

[genesis15-2009]

There is just no evidence for that type of thinking genesis15. You are assuming that God exists when that is not a proven fact. In fact, there is not a single shred of scientific evidence to support that supposition.


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Posted by fibonacci

Science can only prove what it can test continously and get the same results with the exception of a lie called evolution. The spirit world cannot be measured by the pitiful vices of science. Don''t make God laugh.

[mjm121]

Just as ignorant at how Hitler mesmerized and and fooled an entire nation at the expense of Jews. You know he needed someone to blame.


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Posted by genesis15 at 04:31 PM : May 07, 2008


I''m not even sure of what you are trying to say with this comment.

[mjm121]

Science can only prove what it can test continously and get the same results with the exception of a lie called evolution. The spirit world cannot be measured by the pitiful vices of science. Don''''t make God laugh.


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Posted by genesis15 at 04:34 PM : May 07, 2008



Isn''t there some Kool-Aid you can drink?

[fibonacci_]

mjm121, I have a difficulty even understanding what he means too! Honestly.

[robstrck]

fib, science has discovered that roughly 99% of the Universe is unknowable. We as humans in our immediate universe makes up less than one percent. What if that 99% that is unknowable is God?

[genesis15-2009]

I''''m not even sure of what you are trying to say with this comment.



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Posted by mjm121

***, I forgot myself. Sorry.

[mjm121]

What if that 99% that is unknowable is God?


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Posted by robstrck at 04:37 PM : May 07, 2008


The key to this question is the "what if". We all have theories, correct? I just don''t like it when someone else''s is shoved down my throat.

[displeased]

What if that 99% that is unknowable is God?
Posted by robstrck

That''s very possible, but how do people know it''s in the form they believe?

[robstrck]

What we need to control global warming is less human beings (ie less CO2) -- so quick turn the rescue boats around and let these people die!

Posted by three-o-six

******

It is comments like these that keep me from putting my faith in man.