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Burma shuns foreign aid workers Burma shuns foreign aid workers
(20 minutes later)
Burma's military junta says the country is not ready to accept foreign aid workers, amid mounting criticism of its response to the devastating cyclone.Burma's military junta says the country is not ready to accept foreign aid workers, amid mounting criticism of its response to the devastating cyclone.
The foreign ministry said Burma was happy to accept overseas aid, but insisted that it would control the distribution itself. The foreign ministry said Burma was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.
The statement follows pressure from the United Nations to speed up the issuing of visas to foreign relief experts.The statement follows pressure from the United Nations to speed up the issuing of visas to foreign relief experts.
Some aid has made it in, but experts stress that much more is needed. The World Food Programme's Paul Risley said the delays were "unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts".
Dozens of aid experts are reported to be waiting for visas in neighbouring Thailand - but the Burmese embassy there has now closed for a public holiday until next Tuesday.Dozens of aid experts are reported to be waiting for visas in neighbouring Thailand - but the Burmese embassy there has now closed for a public holiday until next Tuesday.
It's more than frustrating - it's a tragedy Eric JohnUS ambassador to Thailand Burma: How you can helpEyewitness: Terrible disruptionBurma: The aid effortIt's more than frustrating - it's a tragedy Eric JohnUS ambassador to Thailand Burma: How you can helpEyewitness: Terrible disruptionBurma: The aid effort
The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta region on Saturday.The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta region on Saturday.
Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000.
Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say that they have reached only 10% of those that need help. Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say they have reached only 10% of those that need help.
In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the junta to prioritise the aid effort over tomorrow's nation-wide referendum on a widely-criticised new constitution. In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the junta to prioritise the aid effort over tomorrow's nationwide referendum on a widely-criticised new constitution.
It would be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts", he said.It would be "prudent to focus instead on mobilising all available resources and capacity for the emergency response efforts", he said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was due to fly to Burma on Sunday to urge its leaders to allow foreign aid workers in.Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was due to fly to Burma on Sunday to urge its leaders to allow foreign aid workers in.
But following the junta's statement, the Thai leader said there was "no point" in his visit.But following the junta's statement, the Thai leader said there was "no point" in his visit.
'Not ready''Not ready'
In a foreign ministry statement carried by The New Light of Myanmar daily, Burma's government said it would welcome cash and emergency aid. In a foreign ministry statement carried by The New Light of Myanmar daily, Burma's government said it would welcome cash and emergency aid. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7389848.stm">See map and satellite images class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4736">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7389827.stm">In pictures: Burma five days on class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7387313.stm">Blogging the cyclone
EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesSend us your commentsIn pictures: Burma five days onBlogging the cyclone
But it said it had turned back a relief flight from Qatar which had an aid team and a media crew on board.But it said it had turned back a relief flight from Qatar which had an aid team and a media crew on board.
"Currently Myanmar [Burma] has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said."Currently Myanmar [Burma] has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said.
"As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries.""As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries."
A BBC correspondent in the storm-hit region says Burmese troops have begun distributing significantly more aid. Although reports suggest troops have begun to distribute significantly more aid, experts agree that the military regime lacks the resources to co-ordinate an effective relief effort.
But international experts agree that the military regime lacks the resources to co-ordinate an effective relief effort, given the magnitude of the disaster. On Thursday, the UN's humanitarian chief, John Holmes, told reporters that Burma's response to the disaster was "nothing like as much as is needed".
It has accepted limited help - some countries which have good relations with Burma have flown aid in. It has accepted limited help - some countries which have good relations with Burma have flown in aid.
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Amateur footage of the damage to LabuttaAmateur footage of the damage to Labutta
Four flights carrying supplies from the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Rangoon on Thursday, as did an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flight.Four flights carrying supplies from the UN's World Food Programme arrived in Rangoon on Thursday, as did an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flight.
But at least 40 UN expert staff are waiting in Bangkok for visas - and two members of a specialist UN disaster assessment team were also denied access when they arrived in Burma, despite apparently having the correct documents.
On Thursday, the UN's humanitarian chief, John Holmes, told reporters that Burma's response to the disaster was "nothing like as much as is needed".
As many as 1.5 million people were severely affected, he said, and there was a "real danger that an even worse tragedy may unfold if we cannot get the aid that's desperately needed in quickly".
Reports on Thursday had suggested the US had been granted permission to fly in supplies using military planes - but officials later said no agreement had been reached.Reports on Thursday had suggested the US had been granted permission to fly in supplies using military planes - but officials later said no agreement had been reached.
"We are in a long line of nations who are ready, willing and able to help, but also, of course, in a long line of nations the Burmese don't trust," US ambassador Eric John said in Bangkok."We are in a long line of nations who are ready, willing and able to help, but also, of course, in a long line of nations the Burmese don't trust," US ambassador Eric John said in Bangkok.
"It's more than frustrating. It's a tragedy," he said."It's more than frustrating. It's a tragedy," he said.
The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma, says that the devastation caused by the storm is apparent everywhere.The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma, says that the devastation caused by the storm is apparent everywhere.
Most of those killed were living in small communities among the patchwork of rivers and streams that make up the western part of the delta.Most of those killed were living in small communities among the patchwork of rivers and streams that make up the western part of the delta.
It was via these inlets that the tidal surge washed its way inland, swallowing up entire villages, two or three hundred people at a time, our correspondent says.It was via these inlets that the tidal surge washed its way inland, swallowing up entire villages, two or three hundred people at a time, our correspondent says.
Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below.Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below.
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