Posted on 06/04/2008 4:44:25 PM PDT by blam
Myanmar cyclone: Burma's junta turns away US aid ships
By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:46PM BST 04/06/2008
Four American navy ships, laden with relief supplies, are steaming away from the Burmese coast because the military junta will not allow them to help starving cyclone victims. On board the boats were 22 urgently needed heavy-lift helicopters, amphibious vehicles and water purification equipment.
The Burmese regime claimed that, far from wanting to help the 2.5 million survivors of last month’s cyclone, the US was in fact intent on stealing the country’s oil resources.
"I am both saddened and frustrated to know that we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people and help mitigate further loss of life, but have been unable to do so because of the unrelenting position of the Burma military junta," said Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of US Pacific Command.
"It is time for the USS Essex group to move on to its next mission."
Among the many problems still blighting the relief effort is a shortage of helicopters. The Burmese military has provided only seven while one United Nations helicopter has been imported and 9 more wait idle in neighbouring Thailand.
The UN says that only 49 per cent of survivors have received any relief at all, and even the lucky ones have received nowhere near enough. Some devastated communities have not yet been reached by outsiders a month after the disaster.
Access for foreign staff remains a huge problem, despite assurances from the junta.The first six foreign Red Cross workers were expected to reach the delta today.
"For the tsunami we had 300 expats in within the first month – compare 300 to six," France Hurtubise, a spokeswoman.
The United Nations also warned today that farmers in much of the Irrawaddy delta are likely to miss the rice planting season, which has now begun. The region is traditionally the most productive in Burma.
"Many areas are still empty and farmers haven’t yet come back because of the lack of shelter and lack of food," said Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Hiroyuki Konuma.
"We have to complete sowing by the end of July latest otherwise it will create tremendous damage to productivity and affect income and eventually will affect national security of Myanmar itself."
I think Hell needs a few more occupants.
BOY Burma miltary govt is colddddd
And people blame GW Bush for anti Americanism.?
In reality, no big deal, think of the tax payers money saved...
Seriously, in the future if they ask for help say “hey sorry.. no dice, we’re too busy”
Yeah, that oil we stole from Iraq sure has helped lower gas prices here, huh?
I love how people just repeat some vapid mantra without thinking about it.
It’s hard to blame the junta. All they have to do is read the American MSM, esp. the statements of the Hollyweird elite and the Demonrat zeolots, and they would believe 1) the US is the source of all evil in the world and 2) the US invaded Iraq to get oil.
The junta must have decided it would be difficult to steal from the US military.
Oh, well. More oxygen for me and mine to breathe.
“I love how people just repeat some vapid mantra without thinking about it.”
Democrats have been doing that for years.
I am sure when Obama is President, their trust will return. He will be the Fairy Godmother, sprinkling hope and change all over the planet!! Just think, no more cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes...it will be a whole new world that we can tell our children about generations from now.
Bomb ‘em with LOVE.
ping
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