Myanmar - Aid flow halts as death toll rises

Unburied bodies are increasing the risk of cholera

Anger and frustration is mounting amongst aid agencies as Myanmar authorities prevent the distribution of food and medical supplies. At a press conference in London all the foreign agencies expressed disappointment at the slow response in issuing of visas. A spokeswoman from Save the Children said that there had been some moves forward but she hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time they were able to operate in the country.

World Vision spokesman Tim Costello speaking from Australia, said there was the risk that the public might stop donating if aid was seen as not getting through. Dysentery and diarrhoea were becoming an epidemic he said. While he conceded the Myanmar authorities had the man power to distribute aid, he said the government lacked the expertise. Earlier the World Food Programme halted aid shipments to the country after it said two plane-loads of food were impounded on arrival in Yangon by the military authorities. Marcus Prior of the WFP said it was “frustrating” that they couldn’t do more.

The UN body said the Myanmar government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands. The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved. But a government spokesman told the Associated Press that the UN claims were "baseless accusations". However it is clear that many citizens are without food, water and medical help. Reports from the few journalists operating illegally in the south of Myanmar suggest that only a trickle of aid is getting through to those that need it.

There are already reports of outbreaks of cholera and bodies remain unburied in large parts of the devastated area. Some estimates suggest more than 100,000 people have died in the disaster and more than 1 million remain without shelter. Fuel, even where available, has risen by more than 10 times since the cyclone hit and pictures show long queues at petrol stations. But it is food and medical help that is still desparatly needed. Reporting from the region is extremely difficult and helping foreign journalists is punishable by up to three years in prison. And while authorities fail to bring aid to the victims there are signs that undercover police are working to stop reporters from operating. It is the apparent arrogance displayed by the military junta that is angering politicians. There has been international condemnation of the Myanmar governments resilience to allowing aid workers in. This afternoon there were reports that US aid workers were to be allowed into the country, but later it was revealed that only the supplies would be allowed in and not the workers themselves. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the actions of the Myanmar authorities calling it “utterly unacceptable” that they were preventing the flow of aid.

Speaking about the aid effort required in Myanmar, Brendan Gormley from the Disasters Emergency Committee said “it needs a huge effort and it needs to be done quickly”. But with the paranoia and arrogance displayed by the Myanmar government, it looks increasingly unlikely that there will be any change to the situation soon [CNN / BBC / Sky News].