Burma - Myanmar Agrees to Allow Aid Efforts by Neighbors

[uppityperson]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/world/asia/20myanmar.html?partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

Myanmar agreed Monday to let its Southeast Asian neighbors help coordinate foreign relief assistance for cyclone victims, bending somewhat to international pressure to allow more outside aid, Singapore’s foreign minister, George Yeo, said. But the supply of aid and the entry of relief workers from countries outside the Southeast Asian bloc would continue to be limited, he said. “We will establish a mechanism so that aid from all over the world can flow into Myanmar,” Mr. Yeo said, speaking at an emergency meeting in Singapore of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, which includes Myanmar.

“Myanmar is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation efforts,” he told a news conference. Referring to the continuing limits on help from countries outside Southeast Asia, he said, “We have to look at specific needs — there will not be uncontrolled access.”
(clip)

Mr. Ban had called for a “high-level pledging conference” to deal with the crisis and for cooperation between the United Nations and Southeast Asian countries in overseeing aid delivery. The United Nations under secretary for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, toured the delta region by helicopter on Monday, according to a United Nations official who spoke on condition of anonymity, The Associated Press reported.

Mr. Yeo said that Asean would work with the United Nations at the conference in Yangon on May 25 to coordinate aid deliveries. He said that Myanmar had agreed to allow in medical teams from any of its nine neighbors in Asean. Thailand has already sent a contingent of more than 30 medical workers. In addition, Myanmar has allowed in 50 medical workers from India. China’s official news agency, Xinhua, reported that a team of 50 Chinese medics arrived in Yangon Sunday night. Mr. Yeo said the Myanmar government estimates losses at $10 billion in the cyclone, which swept through the Irrawaddy Delta and Yangon. Myanmar has raised its official death toll to 78,000. The United Nations and the Red Cross estimate that the toll is more than 100,000, and might be as high as 138,000.

Representatives of United Nations relief agencies said that some of their supplies were getting into Myanmar but that the authorities were still severely limiting delivery and withholding many visas from foreign relief experts.

[uppityperson]

1. kick for the Burmese

[madeline_con]

3. Ditto. Viva Burma.

[uppityperson]

2. Thank you all. There is an awful lot going on these days, easy to

get overwhelmed and pass up or miss out on updates. I'm trying to do better at finding updated info and passing it on, and reading when others do also. Peace and thanks.