Burma’s military refused flights and international aid workers into Burma’s cyclone area. Burma/Myanmar has an estimated 1.5 million affected by the cyclone. Burma’s dead has been estimated at 100,000. The International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told the UK politicians that aid was available for Burma/ Myanmar. The Burma/ Myanmar military are suspicious of foreign influence, which explained their reluctance to allow in foreigners.

Burma/ Myanmar cyclone affected areas:

Burma/Myanmar accepted limited aid from Thailand & China.

Burma’s Irrawaddy delta’s 5 provinces were the worst hit. Myanmar’s ruling junta declared states of emergency in those provinces. MRTV and Yangon City Radio were not broadcasting. Burma/ Myanmar had poor communications now.

Burma/ Myanmar cyclone affected areas face starvation and disease. 17 Britons were reported missing so far on May 8 2008.

The scale of the disaster was comparable to the tsunami of 200. US embassy in Rangoon warned against disease and hygiene problems as the corpses floated about everywhere.

British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Save the Children have formed a special committe. They said money would be spent on immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.

Survivors in Rangoon, Burma/Myanmar need drinking water:

This disaster is even worse than the weather channel scandal but the internet is more keen on Bob Stokes and Hillary Andrews now than the Burma/ Myanmar calamity.

Calamity or peace, a holiday was taken when it was due. The old bureaucratic red tape exercised its black irony in the face of death. The Myanmar embassy in the Thai capital has taken a local holiday on Friday, May 9 2008. Visa applications will be delayed for another 4 more days.

May 9.

The World Food Program has cancelled further efforts to fly in supplies after Burma’s military seized its plane that carried in food for 95,000 people. Officials warn that up to 500,000 would die if speedy aid does not reach them.

The military junta in Myanmar/ Burma insists that only they are allowed to distribute food on their soil. Foreigners are not welcomed in Burma/ Myanmar. They are afraid of being a repeat of Iraq.

The Myanma Ahlin, a government newspape, dispersed some information. The TV played down the cyclone disaster with no mention of it.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will seek audience with the military officials of Burma/ Myanmar.

Some images of broken houses.

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