Myanmar / TC NARGIS (TC 01B) Update: 84,500 dead

[HURAKAN]

After all is said and done, it will be interesting to know how many people died during the cyclone and how many people died because of the aftermath. If before it was a hard life for them, not it probably is hell on Earth.

[loro-rojo]

I just heard on CNN that the there is a provision in the UN charter that allows the UN to pass a resolution that would allow them to deliver aid to a crisis, even if the host country is against it.

According to the report, the US and other Western countries are beginning to look into that possibility.

[x-y-no]

The craziest thing is (from reports I heard) US Navy relief ships were already nearby running an exercise. They could have already been there supplying relief, but the government won't give permission.

[RL3AO]

Well, the US Navy always has ships nearby somewhere.

[x-y-no]

Well, the US Navy always has ships nearby somewhere.

Yes, but as I understand it these were specifically the relief ships that are intended for helping in such emergencies. I know from experience in Andrew how much more capacity they have with their helicopter airlift than can be done with long-distance C-130 flights.

[Chacor]

Latest: "The US says Burma will allow one US aircraft to land with aid on Monday."

[HURAKAN]

If force has to be used to help this poor people, force will have to be used. In tragedies is when the our human spirit flourishes and we realize that everyone is human and equal, and therefore, they must be helped in this moment of extreme crisis. If help is not delivered, more people will die because of the aftermath in the following weeks and months, than the people that tragically died during the storm.

[feederband]

I say if they continue slow down relief efforts we should air drop millions leaflets telling the people we are tying to help but your leaders wont let us...

[canetracker]

The World Food Programme says it will resume aid flights to Burma on Saturday, despite a row over the local authorities impounding deliveries.

The UN body had suspended relief flights after it said the government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.

The cyclone killed thousands of people and left many more at risk.

The government denied confiscating the food, saying it had taken control of the aid to distribute it itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7392331.stm

Thanks for the link Chacor. This Myanmar situation is so sad that it makes the poor handling of Hurricane Katrina look good. What I found interesting, in the article that you posted, is the fact that they are letting an outside reporter stay in. His reporting of the situation really saddened / shocked me:

"The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma despite restrictions on journalists, says the survivors need more than food.
He says they have been cut off and helpless for seven days and are surrounded by tens of thousands of rotting corpses.
What they really need, he says, is the corpses to be moved, clean water, shelter, and efforts to start rebuilding the devastated infrastructure."

[Chacor]

CNN also has a journalist on the ground; he was the first Western journalist to get to Bogalay (10,000 dead in that township). He's described similar scenes.

[Typhoon Hunter]

This whole situation is so horrific. The Burmese government is now (putting aside their previous atrocities) commiting crimes against humanity. How a supposed "government" can be so inept and down right evil is beyond comprehension. This situation is making me so angry.

[hial2]

All we can do is pray for those poor people...believe me,heart felt prayers work miracles

[HurricaneRobert]

The UN needs to grow a pair.

The UN has no means of enforcement. They can either send aid or not. However, if they allow the junta to control the means of distribution, all of it will probably go towards feeding and supplying the military, making it easier for them to subjugate the population more brutally. This is like North Korea and Somalia.

[Sanibel]

They should do some air drops anyway and tell them so. I doubt the Myanmar government will shoot them down.

[Derek Ortt]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

this speaks for itself. Kill those SOB Myanmar government officials.

Mods/Admins, can we not give the clowns that are ruining Myanmar any legitimacy and please stop using their "official" total and use the real totals in the title?

[P.K.]

What makes this worse is they have apparently overridden any requests for the army to help out instead continuing with their referendum campaign. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7393058.stm

[senorpepr]

Mods/Admins, can we not give the clowns that are ruining Myanmar any legitimacy and please stop using their "official" total and use the real totals in the title?

Here's the thing: find a total that gives a definitive number, rather than "the death toll may reach ____."

+22K is the best number thus far.

[StormTracker]

I say if they continue slow down relief efforts we should air drop millions leaflets telling the people we are tying to help but your leaders wont let us...

I totally concur with you on that!!! God bless the civilians of Myanmar!!!

[loro-rojo]

Burma has agreed to receive US aid, but it will not arrive until Monday. People there dont have enough to live through the night, how do you expect them to make it until Monday?!

Why doesn't the UN step in and do something about this? Why do we have to wait until Burma gives the world authorization to help these people? I'm possitive that there couldn't have been something more important for them to discuss today than this. Pass a resolution allowing international aid, and at the same time warning Burma of the consequences of militarily engaging any of these aid suppliers.

Also.. the death toll. The only people who can confirm a death toll is the government of Burma. There is no one else on the scene, since they have managed to keep everyone out. I think that the government began to report actual death toll numbers a couple of days ago, but then realized the international pressure that a high death toll brought. They have decided to not report anymore.. so the death toll will remain around 22,000 if we just pay attention to government figures.

[HurricaneRobert]

Burma has agreed to receive US aid, but it will not arrive until Monday. People there dont have enough to live through the night, how do you expect them to make it until Monday?!

Why doesn't the UN step in and do something about this? Why do we have to wait until Burma gives the world authorization to help these people? I'm possitive that there couldn't have been something more important for them to discuss today than this. Pass a resolution allowing international aid, and at the same time warning Burma of the consequences of militarily engaging any of these aid suppliers.

There is no such thing as a standing UN military. It requires volunteers.