Burma Cyclone News

machadinha

Yes, thanks. I think that's what I meant yes: It's just highly naive to assume they would drop all that now just to let some aid workers in.

(And I've been wondering about the sincerity of those UN types in this context really. I mean it gives them some leverage, doesn't it. And I'm sure they're fully aware of the restrictions facing them, that naivety is certainly insincere. And horrible as the figures we're getting in may be, I've been wondering how they compare to similar yearly cyclone figures all around the region. Last year or the year before it was particularly bad for China and Bangladesh and India and probably some other countries I believe, not that the world at large took much notice. Makes you wonder if disaster in dictatorial Myanmar isn't the better-selling story.)

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PeakXV

My fear is that the 'story' may end up being that xxxxx more people died because the junta feared more for their own existence then for that of their people.

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The_Londoner

It's very sad that so many people have died and Junta are still not letting Aid through. Beebs report

I understand India and China are already helping with Aid, is this reaching Burmese people? An appeal was launched in the UK few days back, but I just wonder how money raised can ever reach those desparate Burmese people.

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Sama

satellite photos of burma before and after the cyclone

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anu_k

It is a difficult situation. Raising funds is not the problem... there is plenty of aid waiting to be moved in. Access is the probelm.

You can't force/ impose aid onto a country. That would be unlawful and only making a bad situation worse.
Either convince the junta to give access or hand the aid over to them and just hope and pray they distribute it? Very frustrating.

capt_mahajan

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Sama

I read in the Chicago Tribune today that while the people starve, the generals are shipping rice out of the country by the airplane full, to meet their export quotas to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

also this

04274108

Completely agree. I'm starting to think that military intervention is needed if the junta persists in denying aid. It's incomprehensible that almost 100,000 people may have died from the cyclone but for me, it is immoral that we stand by and let xxxxx more people die because Burma refuses aid to get through in the aftermath. Some quotes I have read peg xxxxx at 1.5 million.

federica

That is the question... it's not about "helping a country", it's about helping human beings in need... regardless of their nationality.

Regarding the generals: It's more unlawful not to help people in your own country...

04274108

Then what defines "need"? Are the Myanmese not "human beings in need" and deserving our help?

In my country, every citizen has access to food banks, shelters, government money, hospitals, legal aid, and even needles for illegal drug injection. People in my country can get 24/7 help that the Myanmese can only dream of during these desperate times.

All the Myanmese have is misery and death staring them in the face? Why? Because their military "leaders" care only about power...so much so that they are willing so deny basic necessities to their people even if it means millions die.

So how many more Myanmese are WE willing to let die because we do not want to commit the unlawful act of imposing aid onto a country? Is the willingness of the junta to let people die unnecessarily not unlawful too?

Dilliwala

Someone on the Beeb today suggested air-dropping the aid. Hmmm, invasion of airspace? Who's going to do it? Answer: No one.

Anyway, a happy compromise has been reached - news today was that the Army is distributing aid packages/boxes/whatever........with photos of the generals and 'compliments from your friendly neighbourhood general' messages plastered on them.

federica

They not only deserve our help, I would say they have a right to be supported.

What defines "need"... good question. At least food, water, shelter and medicine.

amarama

We will never know the number that have actually died. What a horrible situation this is. The United states had air dropped aid into Bosnia, without official government clearance. Why should Burma be different? Why can't America be the policemen of the world? I would like to see pressure put on China to help. What if their was a severe out break of Cholora, would it not then affect the neiboring countries. What's not to trust about a world government's help (United Nations)?

machadinha

... Playing the devil's advocate some more, I'd think we've seen more unilateral military action over the last small decade or so than I personally care for. (And seriously, be careful of what you wish for. This [those unilateral actions] could prove more harmful to the international order in the long run than might seem at first glance. It erodes the very basis of it.)

Regime change in Burma? Yes, good idea. But who of the powers-that-be have seriously pushed for it over the past decades?

federica

Now China is having similar problems....