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UN denies slow response to Myanmar cyclone
United Nations (AFP) May 7, 2008 UN humanitarian chief John Holmes on Wednesday defended the world body's response to the cyclone disaster in Myanmar, saying foreign aid efforts were moving ahead despite delays. "Our reaction has been reasonable in the circumstances. We need to do better ... It's the beginning," he said in response to charges that the UN response to the devastating weekend cyclone had been inadequate. "We were assessing the scale of the disaster which is gradually becoming clearer ... The implication that we were doing nothing in the meantime is unfair," he retorted. "It takes time to assess these things." He also dismissed suggestions that the United Nations should intervene in Myanmar even without invitation from the authorities. "I'm not sure that invading them would be a very sensible option at this particular moment. I'm not sure it would be helpful to the people we are actually trying to help," Holmes said. "If there had been a blanket refusal to accept international assistance, to accept international aid workers, then that might have been another matter," he added. "That's not the position we're in. We are moving in the right direction." The reclusive Yangon regime has come under fire over its refusal to allow foreign aid workers entry to bring aid to millions of survivors of the cyclone without adequate food, water and shelter. Authorities in Yangon raised the official death toll to nearly 23,000 late Wednesday, with state media saying more than 42,000 others were still missing. However, US charge d'affaires in Yangon, Shari Villarosa, told reporters on a conference call in Washington that there "may well be over 100,000 deaths in the delta area," citing a non-governmental organization she would not name. A vast swathe of Myanmar's low-lying delta region was inundated by cyclone Nargis which hit Saturday, sweeping away entire towns, and triggering fears that disease could push the death toll still higher. Pledges of cash, supplies and assistance have been pouring in from around the world. Related Links Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters A world of storm and tempest When the Earth Quakes
Myanmar cyclone death toll could top 100,000: US diplomat
Yangon (AFP) May 8, 2008The death toll from the Myanmar cyclone could top 100,000, the top US diplomat in the country said Wednesday, as thousands of shell-shocked survivors emerged from the flood waters, desperate for food. |
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