May

15

Myanmar cyclone toll estimates soar

Filed Under Natural Disasters | Posted By Jennifer Sullivan |

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myanamar_5331.jpgJohn Holmes, U.N. under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, stated his organization by now has confirmed 38,491 deaths — much more than the 22,000 figure from Myanmar’s government.

State radio said Thursday that the draft constitution was approved by more than 92 percent of the 22 million eligible voters. It put turnout at more than 99 percent, AP reported. Human rights groups have denounced the referendum as a way for the junta to solidify military rule.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies do not formally estimate death tolls, he said. It compiled figures through an informal survey of numbers cited by other organizations. Those groups say the cyclone affected from 1.6 million and 2.5 million people.

“Clearly there’s a huge frustration that while aid workers may be able to get into the country and into Yangon, they’re not at the moment able to move into the affected areas and carry out the tasks they normally carry out,” Holmes stated.

In recent days, Myanmar has approved to let in some foreign aid.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, back from a visit to Yangon, told the military junta had guaranteed him that there were no disease outbreaks or starvation among the survivors.

He stated Myanmar did not require any foreign aid workers since they “have their own team to cope with the condition.”

A U.S. Marine spokesman told CNN that the government had authorized five more U.S. flights to land in Myanmar with supplies. The flights will deliver 46 pallets loaded with bottled water, plastic sheeting and hygiene kits as well as crackers and powdered milk.

Three additional U.S. flights have already gone to Myanmar — one on Monday and two on Tuesday. They carried food, mosquito netting and tarpaulins.

In the meantime, Pentagon officials stated the USS Essex, USS Juneau and USS Harpers Ferry are in international waters off the coast of the country also known as Burma, laden with more than 14,000 containers of fresh water and other aid and awaiting orders to deliver by air or landing craft.

Ban has blasted the reclusive government for what he called an “unacceptably slow response” to the disaster, and called, “in the most strenuous terms, on the government of Myanmar to put its people’s lives first.”



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