Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor
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Burma’s isolated and xenophobic generals appealed for international help yesterday after a catastrophic cyclone killed at least 10,000 people and made hundreds of thousands homeless in the country’s agricultural heartland.
United Nations agencies were preparing last night to fly in emergency food, shelter and medical supplies to prevent epidemics and starvation inflicting a second disaster on the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which ripped across Burma on Saturday at 120mph (193km/h), destroying buildings and fields, toppling trees and washing away roads in the city of Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta.
Despite a long-standing suspicion of foreign aid agencies, the Burmese Foreign Minister indicated that his Government would accept aid.
“According to the latest information, more than 10,000 people were killed,” Nyan Win said, after meeting foreign diplomats. “We will welcome help . . . from other countries because our people are in difficulty.”
However, the US State Department reported that an offer of $250,000 (£125,000) in help and a disaster assistance team had been rejected, suggesting that the junta might be selective about what it accepts.
Laura Bush, the First Lady, urged Burma to stop hindering the international relief effort. “The United States stands prepared to provide an assistance team and much-needed supplies to Burma, as soon as the Burmese Government accepts our offer,” she said.
The US and EU states have imposed economic sanctions on Burma’s repressive junta. In the past, humanitarian aid programmes have also been limited because of fears that they would benefit the generals.
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God, Jesus, Allah, Jehova, Brahman, fate, Earth who ever - whatever- open the eyes and hearts of the Burmese Government. Let no politics, no judgement, no worldly pride stand in the way of delivery help, Aid and relief to the survivors in Burma. Lord, send your angels GET THE AID TO THEM! Amen
P Thompson, Boston, Lincs, UK
Too bad Burma/Myanmar doesn't control significant oil reserves. If it did, the U. S. and U. K. would long since have sent in the troops to rid the world of this odious government.
Laurence Tenney, San Francisco,
We are for God and our return is in to Him! May Allah save our Burman brothers and sisters!
kaderka, malappuram, India
Of course, we are for God and into Him our return! May Allah saved our friends in Burma!
kaderka, malappuram, India
So the USA offers substantial humanitarian assistance to another SE Asian country and once again draws criticism! What are you people like? Get over your petty point scoring and think of the innocent victims of the cyclone who will no doubt welcome aid from anywhere they can get it!!!!
M Graham, Auckland, New Zealand
i hope the people that have lost their lost ones will not suffer very much, and i hope their souls rest in peace, and may God be with them all, i will pray for them.
tashan ilene, london, England
For. The. Love. Of. God. Send in help! I don't care wether they are foreign or domestic, friendly or hostile, rich or poor, black or white, democratic or autocratric - SEND HELP! Surely compassion knows no bounds of politics, race, religion or creed. Innocent people are dying! Isn't that the issue?
Richard, Newbury, UK
Laura Bush, the US first lady,
"The United States stands prepared to provide an assistance team and much-needed supplies to Burma, as soon as the Burmese Government accepts our offer,"
$250 000, a PATHETIC embarasment
God Bless America
Richard, Manchester,
Given the amount of flooding from the storm, the death toll could very likely be in the range of 100,000 or more. The population that is affected is over 20 million. I think few realize the extent of the devastation. The country's rice bowl was taken out.
Jack, Bangkok, Thailand
William Matthews your spot on. I would be angry to. sort your own problems out first and then help others.
C Kroustis, London, UK
i think Katrina struck the us didn't take effect measure while now they are talking to do more.it is sort of human nature.people always care nore about the people you are less familiar with.maybe, it's a way to show your mercy and kind.how ironic!
joanna, jinhua, china
Look who's talking. The US First Lady, and a rich country that was totally incompetent when Katrina struck.
Jason Tan, Singapore, Singapore
Death toll rise 50,000 now. If military government wise enough to protect people before, there would be less numbers of deaths I believe.
Rangoonian, Yangon,
i think it is devasting i feel so sad for the families who have lost their loved ones
Travis, Ipswich, Australia
I really wonder about the amount of deaths because every site, newspaper and television news says deaths of 241 to 9873 deaths but i really feel sorry
Travis, Ipswich, Australia
Surely the generals are obliged to turn down aid when it is offered to "Burma," the name used by those who reject the legitimacy of the present government, and not to "Myanmar"?
Was this an oversight on Laura Bush's part, or are we seeing some rather sordid American political point-scoring going on?
Giles Murray, Tokyo,
This odious Burma/Myanmar régime posted an official death toll from the Boxing Day (2004) Tsunami of 61, when neighboring Thailand suffered confirmed fatalities of 5,200 and estimated fatalities of 8,200, so if they're admitting to 10,000 the true figure may well be ten times that, or more.
Laurence Tenney, San Francisco,
I spoke earlier on Laura Bushes' proposal to send aid we cannot afford to ANOTHER FOREIGN COUNTRY.Why can she not send that aid to New Orleans for releif to the survivors of the DISASTER we have had at home?Does she think those people are more important than our own people at home,who have suffered?
William Matthews, Golden,Colorado, UNITED STATES
When will we start taking care of our own people here at home?How does it look to the survivors of the Katrina disaster,when we send aid RIGHT AWAY to a foreign country instead of helping our own FIRST?Just because she gets to be in the white house 4 another 8 months she can do anything she wants?
William Matthews, Golden,Colorado, UNITED STATES