Myanmar regime accused of hoarding cyclone aid
1 hour ago
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The United Nations said Tuesday that only a tiny
****tion of international aid needed for Myanmar's cyclone victims is
making
it into the country, amid re****ts that the military regime is hoarding
good-quality foreign aid for itself and doling out rotten food.
The country's isolated military regime has agreed to accept relief
****pments
from the U.N. and foreign countries, but has largely refused entry to
aidworkers who might distribute the aid.
Two U.S. planes have already delivered aid to the country, and, in an
apparent broadening of the initial agreement, the government seemed
willing
to allow future ****pments.
But logistical bottlenecks, poor infrastructure and the junta's
restrictions
have delayed the distribution of the aid, which is piling up at the
air****t
in Yangon.
"There is obviously still a lot of frustration that this aid effort hasn't
picked up pace" 10 days after the cyclone hit, said Richard Horsey, the
spokesman of the U.N. humanitarian operation in Bangkok, Thailand.
Cyclone Nargis devastated the country's Irrawaddy delta on May 3, leaving
about 62,000 people dead or missing, according to the government count.
The
U.N. has suggested the death toll is likely to be more than 100,000.
With their homes washed away and large tracts of land under water, some 2
million survivors - mostly poor rice farmers - are living in abject
misery,
facing disease and starvation.
The U.N. said the World Food Program is only getting in 20 percent of the
food needed.
"That is a characterization of the program as a whole. We are not reaching
enough people quickly enough," Horsey told The Associated Press.
The survivors are packed into Buddhist monasteries or camped in the open,
drinking dirty water contaminated by dead bodies and animal carcasses.
Food
and medicines are scarce.
The military - which has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1962 -
has taken control of most aid sent by other countries including the United
States.
The regime told a U.S. military commander who delivered the first American
****pment on Monday that basic needs of the storm victims are being
fulfilled
and "skillful humanitarian workers are not necessary."
But the junta's words and actions have only served to back up complaints
that the military is appropriating the aid for itself.
A longtime foreign resident in Yangon told the AP in Bangkok that angry
government officials have complained to him about the misappropriation of
the aid by the military.
He said the officials told him that quantities of the high-energy biscuits
rushed into Myanmar by the WFP on its first flights were sent to a
military
warehouse.
They were exchanged by what the officials said were "tasteless and low
quality" biscuits produced by the Industry Ministry to be handed out to
cyclone victims, the foreign resident said.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because revealing his identity would
jeopardize his safety.
He said it was not known what's happening to the high quality food -
whether
it is sold on the black market or consumed by the military.
The government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But
the
claim appeared to be backed up on the ground.
CARE Australia's country director in Myanmar, Brian Agland, said members
of
his local staff brought back some of the rotting rice that's being
distributed in the delta.
"I have a small sample in my pocket, and it's some of the poorest quality
rice we've seen," he said. "It's affected by salt water and it's very
old."
It's unclear whether the rice, which is dark gray in color and consists of
very small grains, is coming from the government or from mills in the area
or warehouses hit by the cyclone.
"We were using food from the World Food Program, which is very high
quality," Agland said by telephone from Yangon. "Certainly, we are
concerned
that (poor quality rice) is being distributed. The level of nutrition is
very low."
The foreign resident also said that several businessmen have been told to
make "donations" in cash of a minimum of $1,800 to the government to aid
cyclone victims. Companies approached include jade mining concerns in
Hpakant, restaurants and construction companies in Yangon, he said.
The authoritarian junta has barred nearly all foreigners experienced in
managing such catastrophes from going to the delta - an area west of
Yangon - and is expelling those who have managed to go in.
Jean-Sebastien Matte, an emergency coordinator with Medecins Sans
Frontieres, said his foreign staff have repeatedly been forced to return
to
Yangon from the delta.
"We can go for two days and then we have to come back," he said. "We're
able
to do 100 or 200 consultations a day but we should be doing 1,000."
Armed police checkpoints were set up outside Yangon on the roads to the
delta, and all foreigners were being sent back by policemen who took down
their names and pass****t numbers.
"No foreigners allowed," a policeman said Tuesday after waving a car back.
After its first aid delivery on Monday, the United States sent in one more
cargo plane Tuesday with 19,900 pounds of blankets, water and mosquito
netting. A third flight was to take in a 24,750-pound load.
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Douglas Powell said the situation remains fluid, but
flights were expected to continue after Tuesday, which appears to broaden
the original agreement for three flights on Monday and Tuesday.
Yangon was pounded by heavy rain Monday and more downpours were expected
throughout the week, further hindering aid deliveries.
But for many, the rainwater was the only source of clean drinking water.
---
It's time to do something unilateral. We, the U.S. and the free world
cannot stand by and let these junta asholes allow their OWN PEOPLE TO
DIE OF STARVATION AND THIRST while they hoard the foreign aid.
I don't know what the "nuclear option" is in this case but we better
figure
it out fast. Air drops are not very efficient I know, but ANYTHING is
better than nothing. Maybe we should send some F-16's to buzz one of the
junta mansions and GET THEIR F*CKING ATTENTION.
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