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It is amazing just monthes ago Burma was suffering a Military crackdown and we saw troops everywhere rounding up the Monks....It is now monthes later and the people of Burma are suffering a huge Disaster, and the troops are barely visible. ( And the monks who usually are omnipresent in such a crisis are barely visible as well). This Cyclone struck all regions are around the Bay of Bengal, so getting aid to the region will be difficult. Atleast 10,000 are dead, roads are washed out and Communication is limited at best. Click the title for Phone Interview from the Rangoon Region.
Open Thread Below in the Comments, I will try to post AID Organizations and NGO's that are able to get Aid to the Region. ( I am still researching).
17 comments:
What the heck is next with Burma? At first the military said 341 then I heard 4,000 now 10,000. Beautiful day here in New England anyway. Hope it is by the lake! Take care!
United Nations has issued reports on the Disaster Relief, and they are working with the ICRC and the World Food Programme ( BOTH have crews and food and supplies waiting to be distributed in Rangoon)....
I would say that AID , or people wishing to donate should contact the two groups I listed above.
( atleast 10,000 dead, and 100,000 Homeless...there are reports that the Military is still guarding Prisons, and there are reports that prisoners have been killed at the Prison- this has not been confirmed-yet, BUT this hopefully is NOT how the Government is dealing with this crisis).
NOW 3PM
Laura Bush is giving a Press Conference about Problems in Burma on the Disaster, as well as the Political Situation, which is problematic- as many countries have frozen the Assetts of Burma, and so I am not sure if this affects AID.....She has said that AID and Funds are available through the UN- if the Government will accept for their peoples.
( Mrs Bush took time away from wedding plans to come give this press conference, before she leaves for the weekend....this press conference was clearly her idea and her mission).
More Research:
India has two large Naval Vessels in the Bay there waiting to give aid as well, the vessels have medical supplies, crews and food. ( they have not been granted permission either).
Laura Bush's press conference:
250,000 is available for aid ( seems like that is a pittance- but what do I know)....It is unclear whether the Junta has responded to any offers of aid , not just by the US but ANYONE.....
very sad...
Myanmar's Katrina. The Baron's are ecstatic.
ahhhh thank you Dr.Know...I have been looking at the photos and I have to admit that it does remind me of Katrina ( and cyclones are very much like Hurricanes....)
Jim....thanks for your thoughts too..
5PM Update:
Now I did find that Unicef and World Vision also have aid ready to send...
I also read the Chinese Papers, Thai Papers, and India Papers...and apparently Bush's Comments last week in his World Food Crisis, about how India was prospering from the Food Crisis and their marketing of rice.....has rankled and caused more anger in asia...( our media has not reported that)...
so that might have been why Laura gave a presser today...although I strongly suspect Laura spoke on her own....
The foriegn papers also indicate that the Junta has not responded to any offers of the Unicef etc....
Zane Verji is giving updates on CNN....the Sanctions issues have not been covered at all...they are being skirted...
More of a similarity in that people are being left to suffer, rather than any similarity in wind patterns. Land grabs, ethinic cleansing, and predation more than wind and water damage.
as of tonight....
Aussie Aid has been allowed- do not know if that has happened yet.....
( I did post an Aussie news update to link to).....
No word on any other aid to be accepted yet...
atleast 13,000 dead....
3am:
New report:
atleast 15,000 dead.....
and 30,000 missing.
They are accepting aid at this point according to Morning news.
10am tuesday:
New reports, Save the Children and other NGOS' are estimating that the Death total is actually closer to 50,000, one village alone that wiped away is 10,000....and the estimate on Homeless is 2 million.....( this is being reported in Aussie and Indian Papers)
State radio is still saying 22,000...It is a situation where there was indeed a Surge and flooding- so getting aid in will be difficult.
Burmese junta is allowing aid and aid teams in...
To Readers 11am Tuesday:
The one photo above is the only one I have seen of a monk....and there have been photos of damaged temples- and no monks on site- if anyone finds any monk photos please email me at enigma4ever@earthlink.net, thank you.
(((My concern is that when events like this happen- usually the monks distribute food and aid, and people go to the temples for shelter- the photos I saw the one huge monastary was chained off- and that is odd- because the monks would never have done this during a cyclone- the military would.....))
...because the monks would never have done this during a cyclone - the military would...
Precisely - as per my earlier comment.
DrKnow...
wise soul that you are...yes I know you are right....but it is still miserable....and heartbreaking to watch ....and know.....
1Pm on Wednesday:
It is estimated that in the Delta that up to 100,000 have died....and the AID is still difficult due to the Yunta putting hold on VISAs....
Appreciate the vote of confidence, enigma4ever, but I'm not all that wise - just fed up. The bulk of human behaviour never changes; very few are enlightened, worldly, tolerant, or compassionate - yet they truly believe they are. And that is the worst sin of all - to be ignorant of the plight of others. To watch governments, including your own, systematically and zealously destroy entire civilizations, cultures, and lives in the name of avarice. I hold zero tolerance for exploitation, especially towards those weaker or disadvantaged. Even Girls Gone Wild Videos drive me crazy - and not in a good way. What are these people (not) teaching their kids?
I'll shut up now...
you don't have to shut up....you are always welcome here...and share anytime...
11Pm Update:
Junta has said they will allow , yes, allow 5 Million in AID....wow...nice of them....for THEIR OWN people....geeez...and they did call our State Dept today and ask to see the Aerials of HOW Bad it is is....scary...they Don't even KNOW how bad it is, and the Storm was actually 5 days ago...100,000 persumed dead.....2 million homeless..rice fields STILL flooded ALL of them.....this is a HUGE disaster...and they won't let AID in ...
You are such a sweetheart. ;-)
Where were you when I was dumb, innocent, and 20? Ah, but life goes on, whether we are desireous or not. Take good care, Allie...
Ahhhh...DrKnow...now I am blushing....where was I when you were 20 ? probally being a sily 20 year old myself....bumbling along....and making plenty of mistakes...you take care too....
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