Myanmar - aid fails to flow as death toll rises

State TV shows soldiers distributing aid but foreign help is being held up

Myanmar state radio have reported the death toll following the recent storms has risen above 22,000 with more than 40,000 missing. Up to a million people are said to have been made homeless by Cyclone Nargis which swept across the region over the weekend. But besides the calls by authorities for humanitarian help there is mounting criticism that the military junta are not moving fast enough to remove the red tape that has prevented some aid agencies from flying into the country. There is also some criticism that the authoritative did little to warn the population of the approaching storms.

Cyclones are not rare in the region but this has hit Myanmar particularly hard with few able to prepare for the approaching storms. Reports on the BBC World Service said that much of the military was conspicuous by their absence. One witness told the BBC that even monks were helping to clear fallen trees from roads. The picture on the ground is still sketchy with only a few journalists able to operate. CNN’s Dan Rivers is one Western journalist who has managed to get into the country and says destroyed homes could be seen for 30 kilometer stretches. Many roads are impassable and rail lines have also become unusable.

Meanwhile International aid is beginning to trickle into the south of the country but not fast enough for some who have called on authorities to do more to cut the red tape. Many are unable to travel to the country due to visa hold ups. U.S. President George Bush Tuesday called on the military junta to allow it to help with disaster assistance. Bush, who made the comments while signing legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Myanmar democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, said the U.S. was ready to "come and help."
"The United States has made an initial aid contribution, but we want to do a lot more," Bush said. "We are prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who have lost their lives, to help find the missing, and help stabilize the situation. But in order to do so, the military Junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also offered help to the disaster hit region. "I believe nearly a million people are now need in need of food aid and we will have to help the families of those where people have died” he said today. "I want to pledge on behalf of the British Government that we will work with the whole international community to make sure that food aid is available to the people of Burma." But while the military junta in Myanmar has asked for help, it is unclear when the massive aid offered will arrive [BBC / Sky News].