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UN resumes aid flights to Myanmar amid first cases of cholera
by amyjudd | May 9, 2008 at 12:46 pm | 360 views | 6 comments
The United Nations World Food Program has announced that two relief flights will be sent to Myanmar on Saturday, after the government put restrictions on aid flights coming in to the country.
"The World Food Programme has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow, while discussions continue with the government of Myanmar on the distribution of the food that was flown in today, and not released to WFP," Nancy Roman, WFP director of public policy and communications, said Friday.
She added that enough high-energy biscuits to feed 21,000 people, which were airlifted on Thursday, have been delivered over the last 24 hours to some of the worst hit areas.
Earlier Friday, the WFP suspended aid flights into Myanmar because of "unacceptable" restrictions imposed by the country's military rulers.
"Two flights landed this morning with food, which has not been taken out yet," Myanmar country director Chris Kaye told AFP in Yangon, without specifying why the supplies had not been unloaded.
Myanmar has maintained strict limits on foreign involvement in the relief effort, despite calls for it to allow unfettered access to experts whose skills are vital for an effective response.
Karen Flores, a representative of World Vision, who are working in Myanmar tells NowPublic "thousands of people are living in very dire conditions. Among the things we are most worried about is a lack of access to clean water." She goes on to say that "clean water sources have been corrupted by flood and salt water, and possibly by dead bodies and animal carcasses. Children are particularly susceptible to drinking unclean water and this could lead to diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses that could significantly weaken them."
World Vision has 600 Myanmar staff members working around the clock to distribute locally-purchased supplies to Yangon residents, "including 18,000 litres of drinking water, 35 metric tons of rice, clothing, blankets, tarpaulins and diesel fuel for generator-powered water pumps."
However, the country is still starting to suffer from the outbreak of diseasethat often affects countries hit by large natural disasters. The first cases of cholera have been reported in Burma in the divisions of Bogalay and Laputta, two of the worst-affected areas by the cyclone.
"The feared cholera epidemic hasstarted", said a local doctor.
Days without drinking water, the survivors of the passingof the cyclone are drinking water from the rivers and lagoons,in which the bodies and dead animals are floating, regardlessof the risks of disease. And while international aid stillarrives in the dribs and drabs allowed by the obstacles imposedby the military authorities, survivors have no access tomedicine to tackle epidemics of cholera, of dengue fever, ofchronic diarhorrea and malaria.
Disease, thirst and hunger are now the menaces facing theone and a half million homeless (UN figures) left behind by thepassing of Cyclone Nargis.
Official figures speak of almost 23,000 dead and over42,000 missing; but an unnamed Army source spoke of 70,000casualties in Bogalay and Laputta alone.
The authorities are unable to recover the thousands ofbodies gathered together or floating in the mud, some of whichare in an advanced state of decomposition Meanwhile censorshipof the media continues; all are controlled by the so-calledMinistry of Information and Control of the Press, whichcontinues to hide the full scope and severity of the disasterfrom the populace.
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May 9, 2008 at 12:46 pm by amyjudd, 360 views, 6 comments
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at 14:32 on May 9th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Here is some extra info:
Today, another Red Cross Red Crescent shipment of aid arrived in Yangon, Myanmar. This time, 8 tonnes of tarpaulins and jerry cans touched down late in the morning on a scheduled commercial flight out of Bangkok.
“Local Red Cross volunteers have been delivering vital aid such as water purification tablets and jerry cans to affected villages in the delta region,” says Michael Annear, regional disaster response coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“Yesterday, in one township near Yangon, Red Cross volunteers were able to distribute 15,000 water purification tablets to people desperately in need of clean drinking water,” he added.
The International Federation has two more shipments of aid scheduled to arrive over the weekend with both consignments made up of emergency shelter supplies, additional jerry cans and mosquito nets.
Once the aid arrives and clears customs it is either shipped straight to a Myanmar Red Cross warehouse in Yangon or, if it arrives early enough in the day, it is put straight on trucks to be distributed to affected communities outside of the city and in the Irrawaddy delta.
“The amount of activity inside and outside the Myanmar Red Cross office in Yangon is very inspiring – with so many young volunteers helping stack water, clothes and other household items to get ready to move out to people in need,” says Joe Lowry, information delegate for the International Federation in Myanmar.
According to Lowry, 220,000 cyclone survivors have received humanitarian assistance, with one third of this population having been reached by Red Cross volunteers.
Disclaimer: I work for the Red Cross Red Crescent.
at 15:48 on May 9th, 2008
Thanks so much for the info! I really appreciate it!
at 17:17 on May 9th, 2008
Great post, photos, and comment!
at 18:48 on May 9th, 2008
amyjudd, great info from the aid agencies.
at 20:48 on May 9th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Great story Amy, it is a tragedy that relief agencies are left at the airport because the Military Junta it seems wants to look like they are in control, and then take the good themselves and hand it out in a feeble attempt to make it look like the Military Government is doing something for their people, thus taking the majority of the credit. when they clearly are out of their element when it comes to emergency measures.
at 20:50 on May 9th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. well done - I had no ideal of how serious this was getting outside of the loss of lives - which is sad.