Cyclone Nargis has devastated 1.9 million in Myanmar, and yet Red Cross has reported that only 220,000 have received aid. The United Nations has repeatedly offered help, so what's the hold up?The military regime has been stalling the approvals of visas for foreign aid workers, and using its own nationals to deliver the supplies instead. In order to enter the country, relief workers have been waiting for the green light in Thailand. This includes ten members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team and Air Force aircraft, which are carrying more supplies.
Due to the delays there has been an extreme shortage of food, and the monks of the Irrawaddy delta are forgoing meals in order to feed the children and elderly first.
Aside from political differences, lack of transportation and physical barriers are keeping relief workers from other countries from responding immediately, so the hope now lies with the military aircraft of the United States.
President Bush's National Security Spokesman has stated that they are continuing to work on visas and permission to enter the country, but because of politics these people continue to suffer.
For more news coverage check out these links:
( I highly recommend the slide shows... just make sure you're not eating when you skim through them.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24514879/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24543907/
Also:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LXAF8AjgiWM
(Coverage by Al Jezeera)
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