laurieco

I also like Doctors Without Borders and have given to them in the past.

CNN is reporting that the U.S. Charge D'Affaires in Yangon is saying that there could be more than 100,000 dead.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapc...one/index.html

easytraveler

Thank you all for the newslinks.

This is such a tragedy. No words can describe the level of grief and suffering.

We must help as much as we can.

Robbietravels

Having spent 3 weeks in Burma in '05, I too am following the unfolding news of this tragedy. I wish I shared some of the other posters' optimism about the cooperation or helpfulness of the military government, I don't. As Craig has pointed out, conditions were marginal before the cyclone and I imagine the people's suffering is now beyond belief.
We donate yearly to Doctors without Borders (heard a wonderful lecture from the French founder last year) but for this situation I made a donation to Asia Transpacific Foundation's Clean Water Initiative. They have been operating (with authorization and government license) outside Rangoon for several years, a rarity in a country that discourages foreign NGOS. There are 3 American currently on the ground, delivering clean water by producing low cost, effective water filters (my judgement). Log on to ATP's website and check out their foundation and this water initiative, asiatranspacificjourneys.com.

Kathie

Hi, Robbie, thanks for the link to another worthy charity.

Unfortunately, the junta, true to form, is reluctant to allow in aid workers, so help is being delayed to the people who need it most. A very sad situation.

janev

BBC footage showed the first UN plane being allowed in last night. Many people are being blocked from going in to give aid as the army their tries to show it has everything under control and can give all the help people need - whilst their people suffer.

KMLoke

Things are not going well.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2...509-64271.html

Myanmar is "not ready" for foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone, the foreign ministry said Friday in a state newspaper, announcing that some aid workers had been deported.

A search and rescue team and media who arrived Wednesday on a flight from Qatar were deported the same day because Myanmar authorities believed the plane was only carryings supplies, not workers, the statement said.

"The relevant parties from the Myanmar side did not have prior information on the presence of such teams. The Myanmar side understood that only handing over of donated emergency provisions would take place," it said.

"Currently Myanmar has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said.

"As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries."

Myanmar will only accept donations of cash or emergency aid, the statement added, saying the country needed medical supplies, food, clothing, generators and shelters.

"The donors and the international community can be assured that Myanmar is doing its best ... to relieve the suffering of victims of Cyclone Nargis."

So far 11 charter flights carrying international aid have arrived in Yangon "with prior consent" from Myanmar authorities, the statement said.

"Myanmar authorities on their part have been making their best efforts to forward and distribute the donated provisions to the victims in a timely manner," it said.

Kathie

Appalling, simply appalling. And, as always, tragic for the people of Burma.

laurieco

This is truly disgusting. After Katrina, FEMA was extraordinarily inept but there was no purposeful lack of help. This is on a completely different scale. Aid is being kept from these people on purpose. An earlier post said that the Burmese government would do a better job than the U.S. did after the hurricane. Care to take that one back? Now I'm not sure where to give money as I'm afraid that any supplies sent will end up in the hands of the junta and not the people who need it. That they will only allow in supplies and not workers tells me as much.

Craig

I agree Laurie - I have decided to hold off on donating anything until I can be assured that it is going to a charity with feet on the ground in Myanmar and not to the Junta for distribution.

This is turning out to be an unconscionable disaster from our point of view. Unfortunately the Myanmar people are so isolated they will probably never know how badly their government is screwing this up.

wintersp

Kathie, thanks for answering my questions re Mercy Corps. I see that Bill Gates (from the same area of the country) gave through them. I see he also gave to CARE which is located in SE USA and I'm more familiar with. Seems both are relable means to give.

However, sadly, it seems the Junta's agenda is more importatant than anything else going on. No surprise there!

With my memories of these wonderful people, I actually hurt thinking of their plight!! Intolerable responses on the part of the govt - but not entirely surprising. This is painful to me - inhumanity on such a 'grand'scale!

janev

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7392331.stm

laurieco

Well, unfortunately, my point was made by the above newslink. Perhaps countries that want to help should just make the decision to send their own military in with aid and screw what the junta thinks. I'm sure the U.S. and other nations' forces could trample over the junta. This makes me so damn angry!

rkkwan

I have to wonder where's China. The only news article I've seen that mentioned was two days ago with Chinese foreign minister urging Myanmar to let aid workers come in.

China is probably THE biggest supporter of the current government. But I guess China is too busy preparing for the Olympics or cracking down on dissidents or limiting visas to Western businessmen. On the other hand, they may not be able to help much, even with their million-strong army. They had problem helping their own people in the poorer mountainous regions following the ice storm earlier this year.

janev

It was reported on the BBC that PM Brown had asked China to influence Myanmar - which it can because of its links - they had said that the sovereignty of Myanmar must be respected and that a "softly spoken" approach must be taken.

easytraveler

The junta will no more respond to China than it will respond to the UN.

It's paranoid about letting any foreign influences in - can't say that with the war in Iraq and China's takeover of Tibet, the junta has no grounds for its fear of foreigners, whichever the source.

It doesn't want foreigners in because it's afraid to lose control of a diverse country with at least 130 different languages spoken. The suffering of the Karen people up in the mountains has been close to genocide, if not genocide itself, yet the junta has successful kept the world at bay.

Now this mass tragedy. It can't keep this event off the world newspapers, but sitting up there in Mandalay, they can afford to keep their distance from the sufferings of the coastal peoples.

France has suggested something like going in, with or without approval, on the basis of some UN law/rule.

I also saw earlier on TV that the oil rich Middle Eastern states have donated almost nothing to the World Food Programme while nations needy themselves, like Bangla Desh, has donated millions.

Lots of things make me mad about this entire situation causing unnecessary suffering and death to millions of people. :'(

Kathie

Easy, knowing about the junta's policy of genocide against a number of its peoples, including the Karen, their crazy refusal of aid workers made me wonder whether there were ethnic groups in the south they want to eliminate. Sad that I would have such a terrible question as I read about the situation.

Robbietravels

There is some small comfort in knowing how many of us Fodorites are crying for the peoples of Burma and seething against their repressive junta. There are some touching and heartbreaking photos at:
http://www.nytimes.com/slidshow/2008...YANMAR_11.html. The previous day's photos on this link are equally compelling.
And hi Kathie!

glorialf

I have managed to get emails to and from three people in Rangoon. The situation there is as bad as we are hearing -- even in the city. Nyi Nyi (the guide I had for both of my trips) said the roof came off his house and he and his family basically slept in the rain for a few nights. Now they are with his brother. Internet cafes are back up but there is still no electricity. People are in desperate need of food, water and candles. They have not seen any aid. Inflation is rampant. Those who can find the money are trying to leave for Mandalay, Bago, Inle lake etc which has not been affected.

One Swiss woman who lives there said that the international agencies aid is all going to the government -- no matter how they try to avoid it. She said that red band for burma is trying to get stuff directly to the people.

My friend and I are going a different route. We are trying to get money directly to Nyi Nyi for use by him, his family and anyone else he can help. I trust him completely. We have transfered money to someone in Singapore who will transfer it to him. If he gets it we will send more -- I have raised over $4,000 from friends to send.

I am also in touch with a Burmese friend who lives in America. Her father was the first President of Burma and was assasinated. She and her family all left. She has been very involved in the underground democracy movement and has a lot of contact in the country. If she has a way to get money to the people I will give her some of what I have raised.

It's the best I can do.

Kathie

Thanks for the information, Gloria. I look forward to any more information you can provide.

I've written to the Mercy Corps and asked what they are doing to help prevent the aid they are sending from ending up in the hands of the junta. I'll post any useful information I get.

wintersp

Gloria, with the controled information systems in Burma, do the people realize that the international community cares and is attempting to help?

Their woes do not need to be intensified by believing no one cares about their plight.

Great that you were able to raise so much to help!