U.S. Aid Reaches Myanmar; Death Toll Rises

1st Relief Supplies From U.S. Arrive As U.N. Urges Junta To Cooperate; Death Toll Now 31,938

(CBS/AP)  The United States delivered its first relief supplies to Myanmar on Monday, as the U.N. urged the reclusive nation to open its doors to foreign experts who can help up to 2 million cyclone victims facing disease and starvation.

Myanmar reported that the official death toll from Cyclone Nargis had risen by nearly 3,500 to 31,938. Nearly 30,000 others remain missing, and the U.N. and others have said the death toll could reach 100,000 or higher.

But, reports CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey, "if official Myanmar state TV is to be believed… all is well."

According to the news being broadcast across the country, helicopters are delivering aid and fresh water is being supplied - all courtesy of the ruling junta, and everyone is pleased to see them.

Pizzey says it's a far cry from what has been labeled "malign neglect" on the part of the government, and bears no relation to the reality in the hard-hit Irrawaddy delta region.

The junta has been sharply criticized for its handling of the May 3 disaster, from failing to provide adequate warnings about the pending storm to responding slowly to offers of help.

Pizzey reports video showing entire families trapped together under the rubble of their homes has lent credence to claims that the junta told people at a critical time the storm was passing, and there was no need to seek shelter.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized the junta Monday for what he called its "unacceptably slow response" to helping cyclone victims.

CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk reports from the U.N., "In an unusual scolding to the military junta of Myanmar, the U.N. Secretary General reacted passionately to the rebuff of aid, and because there had not been a response to his calls and letters to the government and no Security Council action, Ban used his bully pulpit to try to get the junta to open up to foreign aid."

Britain's opposition leader Monday called for air-dropping aid if Myanmar's military government remains adamant.

The U.S. military C-130 cargo plane, packed with 14 tons of supplies, flew out of the Thai air force base of Utapao and landed in Yangon, capping prolonged negotiations to persuade Myanmar's military government to accept U.S. help.

Several Myanmar Cabinet ministers, military officers and the top U.S. diplomat in Myanmar, Shari Villarosa, greeted the plane.

Government spokesman Ye Htut said the aid, which was transferred to Myanmar army trucks, would be ferried by air force helicopters to the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta later Monday. Two more U.S. air shipments were scheduled to land Tuesday.

At the White House, presidential press secretary Dana Perino said the C-130 flights hopefully were "just the beginning of what will be much needed assistance that we were happy to provide. So we hope it gets to the people as quickly as possible."

She also said the United States was prepared to provide an additional $13 million in food and logistical assistance to the United Nations' world food program for distribution to cyclone victims, bringing overall U.S. aid to $16.25 million.

Also Monday, two planes carrying 56 tons of medical and other aid from Europe-based humanitarian groups also arrived in Yangon.

Medecins Sans Frontieres sent a charter plane carrying 34 tons of medical and logistical aid, while Medecins du Monde flew in 22 tons of aid, including emergency first aid kits and medicines to treat malaria and diarrhea.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said in a statement that three more planes were en route, but protested "growing restrictions" by Myanmar authorities on the movement of aid within the country.

Though international assistance has started trickling in, the authoritarian government has barred most foreign experts who are experienced in managing humanitarian crises.

Richard Horsey, a spokesman for U.N. humanitarian operations, in Bangkok, Thailand, said clean drinking water, shelter, medical support and food were sorely lacking.

"The authorities of the country need to open up to an international relief effort. There aren't enough boats, trucks, helicopters in the country to run the relief effort of the scale we need," he said. "It's urgent that the authorities do open themselves up."

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.

The junta has made a huge concession in letting the U.S. - the fiercest critic of its human rights record - bring in relief.

The U.S. plane carried mosquito nets, blankets and water in an operation dubbed "Joint Task Force Caring Response."

Also on the plane was Adm. Timothy J. Keating, the commander of the U.S. military in the Pacific, who will try to personally negotiate with the junta for a larger U.S. role in providing relief.

U.S. Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Douglas Powell said there are 11,000 service members and four ships in the region for an annual military exercise, Cobra Gold, that could be harnessed to help the mercy mission.

Three U.S. Navy ships in the Bay of Bengal were sailing closer to Myanmar on Monday, ready to aid cyclone victims if they are given permission, Vice Adm. Doug Crowder told reporters in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In Irrawaddy delta, people were surviving in miserable conditions - hundreds cramped in monasteries with little access to food. Others camped in the open, drinking dirty water contaminated by human feces or dead bodies and animal carcasses.

"The lives of thousands of cyclone survivors are at extreme risk," aid group World Vision said. "Displaced people are living in appalling conditions in makeshift shelters and camps where overcrowding and unsanitary conditions are prevalent."

Children - many of them orphans - are suffering from fever, diarrhea and respiratory infections, it said.

Heavy rains were forecast this week, which would further hinder aid delivery, even though it could be the only source of drinking water.

Britain's opposition Conservative party leader David Cameron suggested Monday that aid should be air-dropped into Myanmar if the junta does not provide access soon.

"The sands of time are running out," he told BBC Radio. "In the end what matters is getting aid through to people and feeding them and stopping them from dying."

Meanwhile, the Oslo-based opposition news network Democratic Voice of Burma called Monday for a U.N. resolution to make sure aid gets to those who need it.

Deputy chief editor Khin Maung Win said "intervention is needed so that people can get their aid." He said the Security Council should consider a resolution along the lines of a French proposal last week.

The French raised the possibility of U.N. authorization to enter Myanmar and deliver aid without waiting for approval from the military in Yangon.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej sent a letter to his Myanmar counterpart Monday, urging the junta to issue more visas. But the junta replied that visas for foreigners would be considered on a case-by-case basis, Thai government spokesman Wichianchote Sukchotrate said.

Samak's letter was carried by his personal envoy, Lt. Gen. Niphat Thonglek, who traveled to Myanmar on the U.S. plane, Wichianchote said. He said Myanmar informed Niphat that it will open the Thilawa port in Yangon to receive international relief supplies.

Still, the reclusive junta insists it will handle the aid distribution itself, through its feared military, which has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1962.

Many people have complained that they are getting rotting rice and that soldiers are keeping the best food for themselves.

"The government is very controlling," said U Patanyale, the abbot of a monastery in Kyi Bui Khaw village.

"Those who want to give directly to the victims get into trouble. They have to give to the government or do it secretly. They follow international aid trucks everywhere. They don't want others to take credit. That's the Myanmar government," he said.

[algoresarse]

Is this the aid left over from Katrina? Oops...sorry...there wasn''''t any aid for that.

Posted by SistaTee at 03:28 AM : May 13, 2008
+ report abuse

****************

yeah they thought the money that came in was for ''crack''....they were expecting a lifetime of welfare..

[brianbwb-2009]

If the government of Myanmar doesn''t want the US interfering in their business, then so it should be. This stance is consistent, and shows what hypocrites many Americans are. If the Myanmar junta accepts US aid, these same hypocrites would be criticizing them for accepting it, while not toeing the US line.

They don''t want our aid, they don''t want our interference, it is their right to refuse it, or attach whatever conditions they want to in their own country.

[sistatee-2009]

Is this the aid left over from Katrina? Oops...sorry...there wasn''t any aid for that.

[atpay1]

What good does it do anyone to blame the other or other party are we not all human beings? Don''t we all deserve food & shelter? What strings are attatched to "our" governments "giving aid"?? The USA under Bush is way too controlling, what foreign government isn''t afraid of a US invasion of their country even under the banner of "Humanitarian Aid"!! We are to be feared.....

[ioweign]

IOWEIGN ~ I take it your still in your trailer.. Maybe you should move to the chocolate city for your free trailer.. It will be newer then the one your currently in..

Posted by cornbiker at 02:26 PM : May 12, 2008


Go listen to your hillbilly music...

[ioweign]

Isn''t it Amazing how Democrats can take any story and use it as an opportunity to show Hate for America. Not one Democrat alive has said a negative word about the Military Dictatorship of Myanmar which has killed thousands of its own citizens. Like terrorists world wide, the Myanmar Genocidal Dictators said the magic words, "WE Hate Bush" and the Democrats are instantly on their side. And of course not one Democrat alive would say anything about New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin who nearly Bankrupted the city by turning it into a socialist welfare state. Billions of Federal Funds came up missing in New Orleans and miraculously, The New Orleans City Government is now completely financially solvent. Yet now one Democrat alive asks where the money went? And these Liars, Cheats and America Haters want us to vote for Democrats?

Posted by demslie at 12:45 PM : May 12, 2008


You are still in that FEMA trailer aren''t you...

[demslie]

The Rangoon Government should accept relief from the United States. The Katrina Hurricane proved the ineptitude of FEMA for issuing warnings about impending storms. The United States has a serious problem with tornadoes and FEMA does nothing to evacuate potential victims.

Posted by Petro49L

Hey, moron. FEMA is not here to evacuate people. State and local governments are tasked with that responsiblity. But you are so quick to blast your own government, you don''''t even bother with the facts.

And the fact is, the Democrats being in charge of the welfare state of Louisiana for the last 60 years were THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE LACK OF EVACUATIONS FROM LOUISIANA.

Isn''t it Amazing how Democrats can take any story and use it as an opportunity to show Hate for America. Not one Democrat alive has said a negative word about the Military Dictatorship of Myanmar which has killed thousands of its own citizens. Like terrorists world wide, the Myanmar Genocidal Dictators said the magic words, "WE Hate Bush" and the Democrats are instantly on their side. And of course not one Democrat alive would say anything about New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin who nearly Bankrupted the city by turning it into a socialist welfare state. Billions of Federal Funds came up missing in New Orleans and miraculously, The New Orleans City Government is now completely financially solvent. Yet now one Democrat alive asks where the money went? And these Liars, Cheats and America Haters want us to vote for Democrats?

[lewiston14]

"You still have not criticized the government of Burma"

No he did not BUT we would have to invade another country in the process. Not we have not done it before but maybe we dont need to start another one. Who knows who is going to jump in on whos side.

US just butt out for once. They dont wnat them, They dont want us just come home

[clearvp]

Check out a video that adequately depicts what the Burmese are going through under this murderous regime. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJFLeYw690

[workingchump]

I live in Kansas and even I knew Katrina was coming. When we get a tornado warning here, we take cover. Our technology is fine for Hurricane Warnings, people just need to listen.

[petro49l]

The Rangoon Government should accept relief from the United States. The Katrina Hurricane proved the ineptitude of FEMA for issuing warnings about impending storms. The United States has a serious problem with tornadoes and FEMA does nothing to evacuate potential victims.

[clearvp]

The Katrina disaster was the fault of the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of LA. They did not listen to the warnings to evacuate the city. And then you blind myoptic liberals blamed Bush. Please! Oh, and only 1,800 died in LA 100,000 died are suspected to have died in Burma. Equal, not hardly!

[clearvp]

You all are unaware of what this regime has done. Raped and tortured, burned villages, destoryed their rice fields, mined their villages so that men, women and children returning loose their limbs. Forced slave labor and are systematically wiping out a people group (i.e. Karen, Kareene, Shea etc.). And you have the ignorant misguided opinion that you can equate the US with Burma. God help us!

[missingamerica]

Isn''t it interesting that Liberals here are STILL blasting the U.S. government for what they say was their horrible and racist response to Hurricane Katrina, but those same Liberals can''t even muster up one word of criticism for the military dictatorship of Burma?

No...it is NOT interesting. It is EXPECTED, TYPICAL AND THE USUAL ANTI-AMERICAN, UNPATRIOTIC B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T Liberals always pull.

Why don''t you a-holes move to Burma?

Posted by ddhinnyc at 09:25 AM : May 12, 2008

Love that argument.

Because there are other people who are in the governments of other nations who are worse, we Americans are supposed to accept the immorality and self-serving nature of our President and Vice-President and their cadre of criminals.

lollll...hey, if I only kill one child but my neighbor kills two, do I get off the hook?

[ahrats]

the present government leaders in Burma, will not call it their stupid name, should charged with crimes against humanity by the U.N. and a 5 million dollar price should be put on each of their heads. I guess they learned the Bush Administration way to handle a diaster. Katrina was the beggining of the end of the Bush admin. so may this be the downfall of the Burmies administration, but China will still back them. Lets see how China handles it new diaster I''ll bet they do a better job then the U.S. and Burma.