Finally - Burma opens up to aid workers - kinda
From the
Voice of America:
Burma to Let Neighbors Take Lead in Recovery Efforts
Burma has agreed to let its Southeast Asian neighbors oversee an international effort to bring foreign medical teams and aid to areas hard hit by Cyclone Nargis.
The breakthrough agreement came Monday in Singapore during an emergency meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo says that while Burma has agreed to accept nearly 300 medical personnel from ASEAN countries, it does not mean there will be uncontrolled access.
Let's see now - 78,000 known dead and another 56,000 missing. Discounting those already dead, this is 56K/300 or one medical personnel per 186 citizens of Burma.
Some more:
Burma allowed U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes to tour the Irrawaddy delta Monday and also announced that it would let small groups of representatives from several countries visit the cyclone-hit delta in the coming days.
The moves come as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is preparing to travel to Burma on Wednesday. It is unclear whether the country's top leader, General Than Shwe will meet with Mr. Ban, but he is expected to travel to areas affected by the disaster.
Burmese state television showed General Than Shwe making his second visit to the disaster zone today, traveling to some of the hardest-hit areas for the first time. Until Sunday, he had not made a single remark or public appearance about the disaster.
Sickening.
Shwe The whole fucking regieme needs to go now.
Posted by DaveH at May 19, 2008 12:46 PM
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