Desperation Grows In Myanmar

Some Foreign Aid Allowed In; Nearly 2 Million Awaiting Relief; Stench Of Bodies "Beyond Words"

(CBS/AP)  More aid is on the way to cyclone-ravaged Myanmar - but so is the heavy rain.

A week after Cyclone Nargis flattened low-lying villages and killed whole families at a time, the military junta finally agreed Friday to allow a U.S. cargo plane to bring in food and other supplies to the isolated country. Myanmar gave the green light after confiscating other shipments, prompting the U.N. to order a temporary freeze in shipments.

The U.N. agreed to resume flights but relief workers, including Americans, were still being barred entry.

With phone lines down, roads blocked and electricity networks destroyed, it was nearly impossible to reach isolated areas in the swamped Irrawaddy delta, where the stench of unburied and decaying bodies added to the misery.

Exiled Burmese activist Zaw Min told CBS News' Celia Hatton that the government is in over its head.

"They don't know how to handle this problem, so there will be more dead people," he said.

Heavy rain that is forecast in the next week is certain to worsen the plight of almost 2 million people awaiting food, clean water, shelter and medicine.

Diplomats and aid groups warned that the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because of illness and said thousands of children may have been orphaned.

Survivors in one of the worst-affected areas, near the town of Bogalay about 20 miles inland, were among those fighting hunger, illness and wrenching loneliness.

"All my 28 family members have died," said Thein Myint, a 68-year-old fisherman who was overcome by tears and trauma as he tried to explain how the May 3 cyclone swept away the rest of his family. "I

Survivors were sleeping amid the debris of their splintered homes in Bogalay, where more than 95 percent of the houses were destroyed.

Officials have said only one out of 10 people who are homeless, injured or threatened by disease and hunger have received some kind of aid in the week since the cyclone hit.

The government, which wants full control of relief operations, has less than 40 helicopters, most of them small or old. It also has only about 15 transport planes, primarily small jets unable to carry hundreds of tons of supplies.

"Not only don't they have the capacity to deliver assistance, they don't have experience," said Mark Farmaner, director of the pro-democracy Burma Campaign UK. "It's already too late for many people. Every day of delays is costing thousands of lives."

On Friday, Myanmar's military rulers seized two planeloads containing enough high-energy biscuits to feed 95,000 people sent by the U.N. World Food Program, which briefly suspended help after the action. The U.N. later agreed to send two more planes to help survivors.

The government acknowledged taking control of the shipments and said it plans to distribute the aid itself to affected areas.

In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, government spokesman Ye Htut said the junta had clearly stated what it would do and denied the action amounted to a seizure.

"I would like to know which person or organization (made these) these baseless accusations," he said.

The U.N. has grown increasingly critical of Myanmar's refusal to let in foreign aid workers who could assess the extent of the disaster with the junta apparently overwhelmed. None of the 10 visa applications submitted by the WFP has been approved.

Shari Villarosa, the U.S. charge d'affairs in Yangon, said she met with Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu on Friday to discuss American relief operations.

Myanmar says it will accept aid from all countries, but prohibits the entry of foreign workers who would deliver and manage the operations. The junta is not ready to change that position, Villarosa said she was told.

But Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, has agreed to allow a single U.S. cargo aircraft to bring in relief supplies for victims of a cyclone, said Maj. Stuart Upton, a Pentagon spokesman.

"We hope that this is the beginning of broader support between the United States and Burma to help the Burmese people," he said.

The U.S. has an enormous ability to deliver aid quickly, evident during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen nations.

Three Red Cross aid flights loaded with shelter kits and other supplies landed Friday in Myanmar without incident. "We are not experiencing any problems getting in, (unlike) the United Nations," said Danish Red Cross spokesman Hans Beck Gregersen.

More than 60,000 people are dead or missing and entire villages are submerged in the Irrawaddy delta. International aid organizations say the death toll could climb to more than 100,000.

The U.N. estimates 1.5 million people have been severely affected and has voiced concern about the disposal of dead bodies.

"Many are not buried and lie in the water. They have started rotting and the stench is beyond words," Anders Ladekarl, head of the Danish Red Cross.

About 20,000 body bags were being sent so volunteers from the Myanmar chapter of the Red Cross can start collecting bodies, he said.

The U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization said its models forecast three days of strong rain that could dump 4 inches in Myanmar beginning May 15-16. Heavy rain could worsen the situation in the storm-affected coastal region, the agency said, although it cautioned that forecasts beyond five days could change.

The lack of food and water have led to dramatic price increases. In Yangon, Myanmar's main city, the cost of water has shot up by more than 500 percent, and rice and oil by 60 percent in the last three days, the Danish Red Cross said.

The United Nations is seeking $187 million in pledges from donor nations to help survivors.

"If we do not act now, and if we do not act fast, more lives will be lost," said John Holmes, the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

U.N. officials said the pledges are needed to provide food, water purification tablets, emergency health kits, mosquito nets, cooking sets, plastic sheeting and water jugs for at least 1.5 million people in the next three months.

"Myanmar intends to cooperate with the international community to address this great challenge," said Kyaw Tint Swe, Myanmar's U.N. ambassador. But, he added: "It has to be orderly and systematic."

The U.N. requires that experienced aid workers accompany relief supplies in every recipient country until they are delivered, officials said.

"Those are the rules," said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "We have to be sure the aid is reaching the victims."

The junta said it was grateful to the international community for its assistance but the best way to help was to send in material rather than personnel.

Relief workers have reached 220,000 cyclone victims, only a fraction of the number of people affected, the Red Cross said.

"Believe me, the government will not allow outsiders to go into the devastated area," said Yangon food shop owner Joseph Kyaw. "The government only cares about its own stability. They don't care about the plight of the people."

One relief flight was sent back after landing in Yangon on Thursday because it carried a search-and-rescue team and media representatives who had not received permission to enter, the junta said. It said the plane had flown in from Qatar.

According to state media, 23,335 people died and 37,019 are missing from Cyclone Nargis.

Grim assessments were made about what lies ahead. The aid group Action Against Hunger noted that the delta region is known as the country's granary, and the cyclone hit before the harvest.

"If the harvest has been destroyed, this will have a devastating impact on food security in Myanmar," the group said.

[drinuk]

I have not read anywhere what damage this cyclone has caused to the despots who run this dictatorship and to their infasructure. Could it be that they are extremely vulnerable right now, causing them to be very reticent to invite any support for a population who with a little help could be in a position to over throw them.

As with Mugabe, these criminals are desperate to hang on to power for fear of Genocide charges being laid in the International Criminal Court. It is no little coincidence that China have a considerable influence in both coutries, a fact I find most disturbing and a serious impediment to the human rights of millions of people. If China wishes to join the human race and become respected, they would be advised to take the right decisions for the good of suffering populations, including their own.

[drinuk]

Cont. It is not too late to organise a boycott of the Olympic Games. Had it not been for those games a ship load of arms would have arrived in Zimbabwe last month. If they can run guns to these despots they can also influence events for the good of the people. If China stands idly by whilst the poor are starving and dying, the World should stand by and watch their Olympic Games sink into oblivion. The time is right to turn their flagship into their Titanic.

[drinuk]

Humanavance ! What the F--k are you on and what the F--k are you ranting on about ????

[voidmaster-2009]

The U. S. should over run the capital of Burma, dispose of its so called government then begin the aid. If there was ever a legitimate cause of invasion, this would be it.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America

what is Up Fuzzy ? as if we didn`t already know.

editing

I have decided to appointment myself as a CBS news editor, might as well be the top news editor.

``
By rejecting the U.S. aid offer, the junta is refusing to take advantage of Washington''s enormous ability to deliver aid quickly, which was evident during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen nations.


) MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

``

what I wanted to point out here is that CBS wants to show how quick the U.S. goverment is to respond with cyclone aid to Burma, but found its hands tied as far as Louisiana was concerned, nothing more.
and the U.N. conviently located on Rockefellar Plaza, was quick to critisize Myanmar for refusing Aid,
but was fine and well with the U.S. for rejecting Aid from other good neighbors around the world like, Italy and Russia.
Ok so the U.N. building is not located on Rockefellar Plaza, but it is somewhere in New York.

Propoganda my fellow Americans
Propoganda.

sadly Propoganda is spread amidst Human Suffering.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America Here we go again
a helper from Al Sharpton

``
Propoganda my fellow Americans
Propoganda.

sadly Propoganda is spread amidst Human Suffering.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear




Posted by FuzzyBear9 at 07:45 AM : May 09, 2008

grow up


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jamesm12341 at 07:54 AM : May 09, 2008
``

Americans are to blame for all the suffering in Myanmar, it is your fault America,
we need Pity
Pity for Myanmar,
Pity for the Mayor Of New Orleans
Pity for the Kennedy`s

we need your tax dollars to help relieve all this Pity.

sincerely Fuzzy

[rowdytexan2]

So, let''s pour $845 Billion EXTRA dollars into foreign aid for Mr. Obama''s bill. Righttttttttttt....

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Friends Calm Down

``
So, let''''s pour $845 Billion EXTRA dollars into foreign aid for Mr. Obama''''s bill. Righttttttttttt....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:17 AM : May 09, 2008
``

I`m not saying that the girl scouts shouldn`t collect donations, lands alive the mailman came by the other day looking for handouts to the Post Office Workers food bank drive, I mean a few cans of beans ain`t going to break anyone right?
my point is why try to make Americans feel they are obligated to help people all around the world.
charity is much nicer to give when I freely open my hand than when it is pryed by force by the
Pity Politicians of Washington D.C.
that make a living on social welfare,
you didn`t think Al Sharpton actually earned one dollar of his three piece suit.
heavens no.
each and every dollar came from public welfare.
donated by his perishoners.

Fuzzy

[jjp735i]

Well the junta can now feed their families now, thanks to the U.N. not being ready once again. How times have war lords or military governments taken aid shipments only to turn around and sell the food and other needed items for cash? I think everyone saw this coming but the U.N.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Friends

the whole point here is that natural disasters have happened in the past and will probably continue in the future, its nice to have the ability to help others, thats what being an American means,
but we may not be able to help everyone all the time,
in fact not all people want help, they prefer their independence to Social Welfare, there is alot to be said for people with this attitude, that want to pull up their own boot straps,
take for example Ethiopia
its a blackhole for welfare dollars,
its just the nature of the people and their goverment.
give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish and he will eat a life time.

so you see the Old American Liberal policies of just throwing your hard earned dollar at every world wide disaster, may not be the best solution.
educate, teach the people of Burma to listen to weather reports, and to respond quickly.
and that its ok to eat that cow in the streets rather than to perish.

sincerely nuff said today Fuzzy

[johnshaft4]

We should do something right for a change and kill these evil bastartds.

[rochest]

if this country can preemptively go to war what is preventing us from preemptively aiding in a humanitarian crisis?

[tmn]

Let''s feed our own hungry people at home...

[onceagirl]

Where is the UN? This organization should be mustering up troops/equipment and rid the country of the ridiculous junta that is killing people for nothing but idealism. China should be ashamed of itself for not spearheading this invasion.

[djlynch1951]

Respecting the sovreignty of the Myanmar government is not an option. if they won''t let the aid and aid workers in, it is time for the US Military to forcibly remove them. President Bush should give them a 24-hour ultimatum, and if no compliance, land 50,000 Marines and drop 10,000 paratroopers along with air strikes on the command and control centers of the Juenta. These junta people have absolutely no regard for the people suffering and dying. If there was ever a moral and proper use of military force, it is here. It is time to get moving and to hell with the political and diplomatic consequences.

[nothappyatall]

" and children ripped from their parents arms. "

Oh gee aren''t we laying the melodrama on thick here! screaming tots RRRRIPPED from their parents arms.

"The government only cares about its own stability. They don''t care about the plight of the people," he said. "

And thats a surprise?
Let em sink, they need the population reduction badly anyway.

[mudrose-2009]

Let''''s feed our own hungry people at home...

Posted by tmn123

Then go on weight watchers. That''ll leave a lot more for the rest of the fat heads like you to feed off of themselves in this country.

[maharishi1]

IT IS BUSSH FAULT.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by FuzzyBear9 at 08:26 AM : May 09, 2008

The point is, we pour billions into foreign aid already that gets hijacked and never gets in the hands of the people! This is a prime example of pouring money into the hands of corruptness!

Why would we want to pour $845 billion EXTRA dollars into it.

I wouldn''t send another dime anywhere, unless there was an agreement that American missionaries and aid workers get to hand the food to the people from their own hand.

Giving is what we need to be doing. But we don''t need to be putting our money into a failed program. Especially the Global Poverty Act Mr. Obama is PUSHING AT US! That act commits us to subverting some of our Constitutional right, also.

The other point is, we don''t HAVE the money! Where is it going to come from, except higher taxes, expecially more federal gasoline taxes. Unless Mr. Obama, like Mr. Bush goes hand out to China for it.

[mudrose-2009]

The other point is, we don''''t HAVE the money! Where is it going to come from, except higher taxes, expecially more federal gasoline taxes. Unless Mr. Obama, like Mr. Bush goes hand out to China for it.

Posted by RowdyTexan2

Oh? Hate to inform you but we got lotsa MONEY! America has always been a country of generosity and giving. It''s because of our heritage and the fact we are comprised of most of the world that our outreach to the world has deeper and greater implications for the good of mankind. Do not demean our stature in the eyes of our own citizens by saying we can''t afford to give of our time, energy, money and food. We are not starving. And we are far from broke. Wake up. Smell the coffee!

[mypatch]

This is another ploy by the U.S. to get in there and take over like they always do. Who are we to push our way into a country that doesn''t want us. Drop the shipments and let the gov''mnt disperse it. If they don''t then walk away and don''t send any more. STOP being BIG BROTHER.

[mudrose-2009]

This is another ploy by the U.S. to get in there and take over like they always do. Who are we to push our way into a country that doesn''''t want us. Drop the shipments and let the gov''''mnt disperse it. If they don''''t then walk away and don''''t send any more. STOP being BIG BROTHER.

Posted by mypatch

You know you sound like a selfish and arrogant s.o.b. I would like for you to be in the same position some day and when you need help have others say that this is just a ploy on your part to take away other people''s hard earned money and you should rot in the gutter.

[drinuk]

These evil b a s t a r d s are now sending aid away and not permitting further flights. Well! GW you wanted to go out in a blaze of glory, now''s your F--king chance, you wanted a legarcy, let the poor people of Burma be your legarcy, go get ''em Strangelove!

[whatisit21]

Sounds like a lot more is going on besides sending aid to people. America isn''t in any shape to help anybody anyway. They can''t even help their own people when disaster strikes. America is the next 3rd world nation and soon people in Russia and China will send Americans aid when super storm hits.

[mudrose-2009]

Sounds like a lot more is going on besides sending aid to people. America isn''''t in any shape to help anybody anyway. They can''''t even help their own people when disaster strikes. America is the next 3rd world nation and soon people in Russia and China will send Americans aid when super storm hits.
Posted by whatisit21

Well if you rely on the government like Katrina where local, and state government failed the people and then expect the Federal government to come to the rescue this is what you get. Nagin ran out of the state and that idiot governor who Bush called continually, failed to give the Feds the go ahead before all hell broke loose. And yet, you are all in favor of universal healthcare, but b/itch that the government doesn''t help. Rule of thumb which was exactly how government should act is what took place in New York on 9/11. Mayor - local, contacted Governor - state, contacted Feds - FEMA. In New York the Feds where there in 72 hours. Standard procedure. In New Orleans, Amtrak offered Nagin the opportunity to get the people on trains and out of the 9th Ward but Nagin refused. Buses laid idle while this guy took off for another state and gave people the "every man for himself" style of government.

AND WE ARE NOT POOR AND IMPOVERISHED. GOT OVER YOUR POVERTY PIMPING AND VICTIMIZATION.

[berniepeders]

mudrose-
Looks like you''ve got your hands full here, trying to explain the facts of life in the US to a bunch of panicky, ill-informed posters. Good luck. I totally agree with everything you''ve said so far.
Peace

[berniepeders]

Respecting the sovreignty of the Myanmar government is not an option. if they won''''t let the aid and aid workers in, it is time for the US Military to forcibly remove them. President Bush should give them a 24-hour ultimatum, and if no compliance, land 50,000 Marines and drop 10,000 paratroopers along with air strikes on the command and control centers of the Juenta.
Posted by djlynch1951

I kinda like this guys way of thinking, too. What else is our military strength good for if we can''t help a bunch of TRULY oppressed people?

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose-
Looks like you''''ve got your hands full here, trying to explain the facts of life in the US to a bunch of panicky, ill-informed posters. Good luck. I totally agree with everything you''''ve said so far.
Peace
Posted by berniepeders

Likewise. It''s astounding isn''t it how selfish, self-absorbed and arrogant they are. My folks were children of the depression; I''m a boomer and my God the stories my folks told me were amazing. These whimps whine in an age where they have just about everything at their disposal and it''s not enough. They really deserve their fate. Smarter people will fool them and manipulate them and the irony is that they will clap their hands approvingly.

[mudrose-2009]

Respecting the sovreignty of the Myanmar government is not an option. if they won''''''''t let the aid and aid workers in, it is time for the US Military to forcibly remove them. President Bush should give them a 24-hour ultimatum, and if no compliance, land 50,000 Marines and drop 10,000 paratroopers along with air strikes on the command and control centers of the Juenta.
Posted by djlynch1951

I kinda like this guys way of thinking, too. What else is our military strength good for if we can''''t help a bunch of TRULY oppressed people?

Posted by berniepeders

Ditto!

[quetzalcrist]

Meanwhile people die and starve,

[quetzalcrist]

Respecting the sovreignty of the Myanmar government is not an option. if they won''''''''''''''''t let the aid and aid workers in, it is time for the US Military to forcibly remove them. President Bush should give them a 24-hour ultimatum, and if no compliance, land 50,000 Marines and drop 10,000 paratroopers along with air strikes on the command and control centers of the Juenta.
Posted by djlynch1951.......

umm you forget, all the troops are kind of busy right now, and over a lie at that!

[ponco seno]

President Bush should give them a 24-hour ultimatum, and if no compliance, land 50,000 Marines and drop 10,000 paratroopers along with air strikes on the command and control centers of the Juenta.
Posted by djlynch1951



Are they available? I thought they were in Iraq

[mudrose-2009]

umm you forget, all the troops are kind of busy right now, and over a lie at that!
Posted by QuetzalCrist

Umm you forget that American as several branches of service. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard. We have very nice planes and very big ships with very big weapons on them and satelites up in the sky. So, um, I wouldn''t worry about us being busy.

[quetzalcrist]

mudrose...

Good one.....
You should volunteer to be amongst the first troops
to jump.......

[singingrick]

Looks like the government of Myanmar is taking lessons from Bush and his cronies on disaster management.

[ponco seno]

umm you forget, all the troops are kind of busy right now, and over a lie at that!
Posted by QuetzalCrist

Umm you forget that American as several branches of service. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard. We have very nice planes and very big ships with very big weapons on them and satelites up in the sky. So, um, I wouldn''''t worry about us being busy.

Posted by mudrose at 09:49 AM : May 09, 2008




LOLOLOLOLOL ;-)

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose...

Good one.....
You should volunteer to be amongst the first troops
to jump.......

Posted by QuetzalCrist

Oh. And die for the likes of you? Nah, I''d push you right up front there and make you go first. I''ll be right behind you all the way, just like your sort is behind us.

[taylor2124]

Hey, you''re all thinking about this the wrong way. You need to try the "Beautiful Babe in the Bar" strategy. Think about it. We all know that in a bar, there is always that one gorgeous hot babe that thinks that nobody is good enough for her. She gets approached again and again and she turns everyone down. And the more the guys try, the more arrogant she gets. When we all know what would really be best for that babe is if everyone just ignored her and walked away, so she get could learn some humility. So, Burma is that hot babe. Burma keeps getting all these massive aid offers, and all the world is begging to help her, and she turns them down. The world needs to just say %u201Cenough of this sh*t%u201D, and walk way. Bring the planes home, STOP begging Burma for the privilege to help, and ignore her. Heck, within 5 days she%u2019ll be on the phone with us, like that hot babe, begging for attention. And then we can get something done to help those people. If reverse psychology works on the hot babe, surely it will work on the Burmese junta.

[mudrose-2009]

Looks like the government of Myanmar is taking lessons from Bush and his cronies on disaster management.

Posted by singingrick

The government of Burma doesn''t want any aid from Democracies because they fear that the people will wise up and demand freedom and then their little jig is up. So they''d rather starve them to death than let them taste freedom. Lessons of all fascist regimes.

[notblue]

"respecting the sovreignty of the mynmar government" This so called Government was not Democratically elected, it is a military REGIME that siezed control. They do not want outsiders in because that would display their oppressive tactics against the civilian population to the rest of the world. Typical dictatorship holding it''s own people hostage.

[notblue]

singingrick/j-whitman, as usual your total lack of understanding is staggering. And your ability to twist every vial event in the greater world into an America/Bush bashing statement is also typical, idiotic and tiresome.

[byeneocons]

This is horrible. It looks like Bush and his frat buddies are in charge of another disaster.

[mudrose-2009]

As for Myanmar.. Well the Us offered aid.. they refused.. End of story..

I''''ve always said that the US should never give money or weapons as aid.. Only give food and grain... It is hard to kill someone with a hand full of corn (but it can be done)
Posted by cornbiker

Imagine if we did that with Nazi Germany. Neville Chamberlain said Hitler would respect the Munich Agreement and that was the end of the story.

[quetzalcrist]

mudrose ...

no one is sending you to die for Me,
just sending you to practice what you preach,
Mr, Keyboard Warrior,
Semper WiFi dude!!!

[mudrose-2009]

singingrick/j-whitman, as usual your total lack of understanding is staggering. And your ability to twist every vial event in the greater world into an America/Bush bashing statement is also typical, idiotic and tiresome.

Posted by notblue

The have the IQ of an ant, not to insult the ant world since those little suckers are hard working. Their only contribution is a long chain of endless rants.

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose ...

no one is sending you to die for Me,
just sending you to practice what you preach,
Mr, Keyboard Warrior,
Semper WiFi dude!!!

Posted by QuetzalCrist

Yeah, and where did you walk the walk?

[quetzalcrist]

mudrose ...

im not the one talking about yet onother invasion!!!

the U.N. should be in charge of this humanitarian Crisis,
all you do is instigate, and then you wonder why people are attacking this country,
ill be Glad when 09 gets here, time for Regime Change.

[marbru-2009]

Don''t know why this story would surprise anyone.

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose ...

im not the one talking about yet onother invasion!!!

the U.N. should be in charge of this humanitarian Crisis,
all you do is instigate, and then you wonder why people are attacking this country,
ill be Glad when 09 gets here, time for Regime Change.
Posted by QuetzalCrist

I''m not instigating anything wise guy. But you are provocative little ***** who panders in moral relevance. Your buddy Clintoon thought terrorism was a police action and let it to the UN. We got 9/11 because Clintoon like you have big fat lips but when it comes to putting yourselves on the line, that''s a no no. The World should get involved in this you little ***** and we are part of the World. You on the other hand belong in a very deep dark hole.

[petro49l]

Many thousands of People could die in Myanmar without proper food, water, medicine, and clothing. Natural disasters should be taken seriously. The Katrina Hurricane is a good example of incompetence. Rangoon should reconsider their decision.