Burma Seize Aid Flights
Burmese Govermnet Impound Aid Destined Victims of Cyclone Nargis
The Burmese junta confiscate UN relief aid destined for victims of Cyclone Nargis to the dismay of Western Governments.
The crisis in Burma deepened on Friday after the United Nations threatened to suspend all further relief aid following the seizure of two of its planes as they attempted to bring relief to thousands suffering in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
The World Food Programme (WFP) were said to be dismayed after two plane loads of food were impounded on arrival on Friday by military authorities.
WFP said they were monitoring the situation until the incident was resolved amid mounting world criticism over the junta’s handling of the crisis.
“The World Food Programme has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow (Saturday), while discussions continue with the Government of Myanmar on the distribution of the food that was flown in today, and not released to WFP,” they said in a statement on Friday.
Burmese state media maintain that nearly 23,000 people were killed, but Britain’s ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, said authoritative sources were now speaking of between 63,000 and 100,000 people dead or missing.
Aid agencies say seven tonnes of high-energy biscuits have been distributed in the delta region, but they have reached only 10 percent of those that need help.
However, Burma’s foreign ministry insisted that it was not ready to allow foreign aid workers to enter the country.
The junta stressed it was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.
The UN blasted Burma's military regime saying its refusal to let in foreign aid workers was "unprecedented" in the history of humanitarian aid.
WFP spokesman Paul Risley said two flights of “critically-needed food aid” - including 38 tonnes of high-energy biscuits - arrived in Burma on Friday but was confiscated.
"The frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts," Mr Risley said.
"We strongly urge the Government to process these visa applications as quickly as possible, including work over the weekend."
The UN’s Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Noeleen Heyzer added: “The situation is getting critical and there is only a small window of opportunity if we are to avert the spread of diseases that could multiply the already tragic number of casualties.”
Ms. Heyzer “urged again the Myanmar authorities to issue visas expeditiously, and if possible, exempt all visa requirements for all UN aid workers, so that aid can reach the people as quickly as possible.”
A government-run newspaper said on Friday: “Myanmar is not in a position to receive rescue and information teams from foreign countries at the moment."
It added: "But at present Myanmar is giving priority to receiving relief aid and distributing them to the storm-hit regions with its own resources."
