Myanmar regime accused of hoarding aid
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - May 13, 2008 The country's isolated military regime has agreed to accept
relief shipments from the U.N. and foreign countries, but has
largely refused entry to aidworkers who might distribute the aid.
Two U.S. planes have already delivered aid to the country, and,
in an apparent broadening of the initial agreement, the government
seemed willing to allow future shipments.
But logistical bottlenecks, poor infrastructure and the junta's
restrictions have delayed the distribution of the aid, which is
piling up at the airport in Yangon.
"There is obviously still a lot of frustration that this aid
effort hasn't picked up pace" 10 days after the cyclone hit, said
Richard Horsey, the spokesman of the U.N. humanitarian operation in
Bangkok, Thailand.
Cyclone Nargis devastated the country's Irrawaddy delta on May
3, leaving about 62,000 people dead or missing, according to the
government count. The U.N. has suggested the death toll is likely
to be more than 100,000.
With their homes washed away and large tracts of land under
water, some 2 million survivors - mostly poor rice farmers - are
living in abject misery, facing disease and starvation.
The U.N. said the World Food Program is only getting in 20
percent of the food needed.
"That is a characterization of the program as a whole. We are
not reaching enough people quickly enough," Horsey told The
Associated Press.
The survivors are packed into Buddhist monasteries or camped in
the open, drinking dirty water contaminated by dead bodies and
animal carcasses. Food and medicines are scarce.
The military - which has ruled the country with an iron fist
since 1962 - has taken control of most aid sent by other countries
including the United States.
The regime told a U.S. military commander who delivered the
first American shipment on Monday that basic needs of the storm
victims are being fulfilled and "skillful humanitarian workers are
not necessary."
But the junta's words and actions have only served to back up
complaints that the military is appropriating the aid for itself.
A longtime foreign resident in Yangon told the AP in Bangkok
that angry government officials have complained to him about the
misappropriation of the aid by the military.
He said the officials told him that quantities of the
high-energy biscuits rushed into Myanmar by the WFP on its first
flights were sent to a military warehouse.
They were exchanged by what the officials said were "tasteless
and low quality" biscuits produced by the Industry Ministry to be
handed out to cyclone victims, the foreign resident said.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because revealing his
identity would jeopardize his safety.
He said it was not known what's happening to the high quality
food - whether it is sold on the black market or consumed by the
military.
The government did not immediately respond to requests for
comment. But the claim appeared to be backed up on the ground.
CARE Australia's country director in Myanmar, Brian Agland, said
members of his local staff brought back some of the rotting rice
that's being distributed in the delta.
"I have a small sample in my pocket, and it's some of the
poorest quality rice we've seen," he said. "It's affected by salt
water and it's very old."
It's unclear whether the rice, which is dark gray in color and
consists of very small grains, is coming from the government or
from mills in the area or warehouses hit by the cyclone.
"We were using food from the World Food Program, which is very
high quality," Agland said by telephone from Yangon. "Certainly,
we are concerned that (poor quality rice) is being distributed. The
level of nutrition is very low."
The foreign resident also said that several businessmen have
been told to make "donations" in cash of a minimum of $1,800 to
the government to aid cyclone victims. Companies approached include
jade mining concerns in Hpakant, restaurants and construction
companies in Yangon, he said.
The authoritarian junta has barred nearly all foreigners
experienced in managing such catastrophes from going to the delta -
an area west of Yangon - and is expelling those who have managed to
go in.
Jean-Sebastien Matte, an emergency coordinator with Medecins
Sans Frontieres, said his foreign staff have repeatedly been forced
to return to Yangon from the delta.
"We can go for two days and then we have to come back," he
said. "We're able to do 100 or 200 consultations a day but we
should be doing 1,000."
Armed police checkpoints were set up outside Yangon on the roads
to the delta, and all foreigners were being sent back by policemen
who took down their names and passport numbers.
"No foreigners allowed," a policeman said Tuesday after waving
a car back.
After its first aid delivery on Monday, the United States sent
in one more cargo plane Tuesday with 19,900 pounds of blankets,
water and mosquito netting. A third flight was to take in a
24,750-pound load.
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Douglas Powell said the situation remains
fluid, but flights were expected to continue after Tuesday, which
appears to broaden the original agreement for three flights on
Monday and Tuesday.
Yangon was pounded by heavy rain Monday and more downpours were
expected throughout the week, further hindering aid deliveries.
But for many, the rainwater was the only source of clean
drinking water.