Response to Cyclone Nargis

| 05.06.2008 | 10:47:2710169 |

May 06 '08: Relief aid agencies heading to the affected region's of Myanmar's Irrawady Delta are facing challenges due to the remote location of many villages and the destruction caused by Cyclone Nargis, the New York Times reported. "Bad roads, a lack of cooperation from the country's military government and a breakdown in telecommunications are factors that could hamper relief efforts," the Times reported.

"Even before the storm hit," the paper reported, "many towns and villages in the area were accessible only by boat or helicopter. ... Two of Myanmar's neighbors sent supplies immediately: Thailand on Tuesday dispatched a transport plane loaded with food and medicine to Yangon and India sent two naval ships loaded with food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines. ... The United States announced it might send $250,000 worth of aid, but said the shipment was conditional on an American disaster response team being allowed into the country as well."

Additionally, Myanmar's information minister Kyaw Hsan said his government is "coordinating and cooperating with businessmen," to make keep food prices down and to dissuade profiteering. "We appeal to entrepreneurs and businessmen not to cash in on the disaster."

The current list of international aid has been posted on the USA Today site.

National Blueprint Tags: Response & Containment, Legal & Intergovernmental.