Burma death toll soar, aid efforts criticized

by cynthia yoo | May 15, 2008 at 11:15 am | 143 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Yangon Cyclon leaves behind thousands homeless

New storm head toward cyclone-devastated Myanmar

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Burmese authorities are facing an uphill battle in their aid efforts. The upcoming weekend promises further bad weather, hampering aid.

The Burmese government has been criticized for mismanagement and pilfering of foreign aid.

Burma's junta warned Thursday of legal action against people who hoard or trade aid supplies meant for the survivors of a cyclone that may have killed up to 128,000 people, the first indirect acknowledgment of problems with relief operations.

While the government official death toll report 43,318 fatalities, the U.N. and the Red Cross estimate that 1.6 million to 2.5 million people are in desperate need for food, water and supplies.

Only 270,000 have been reached so far by aid groups.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societiesestimated Wednesday that the total death toll may be between 68,833 and127,990. The U.N. has said more than 100,000 may have died.

Reports have emerged that foreign aid was being sold openly in markets and the military was pilfering and diverting aid for its own use. New York-based Human Rights Watch said Wednesday that the military had seized high-energy biscuits that came from abroad and distributed low-quality, locally produced biscuits to survivors. State radio obliquely denied the military was misappropriating aid.