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UN to resume Burma food flights UN to resume Burma food flights
(30 minutes later)
The World Food Programme says it will resume aid flights to Burma on Saturday, despite a row over the local authorities impounding deliveries.The World Food Programme says it will resume aid flights to Burma on Saturday, despite a row over the local authorities impounding deliveries.
The UN body had suspended relief flights after the Burmese government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis. The UN body had suspended relief flights after it said the government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.
The cyclone killed thousands of people and left many more at risk.The cyclone killed thousands of people and left many more at risk.
A Burmese government spokesman told the Associated Press the UN claims had been "baseless accusations". The government denied confiscating the food, saying it had taken control of the aid to distribute it itself.
Ye Htut said the government had taken control of the aid to distribute it "without delay by its own labour to the affected areas". The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis and their reluctance to allow international aid teams into the country.
The country's ruling generals have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis. The junta has said it is happy to accept aid, but insists it will control the distribution.
Disease fears
The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone, with tens of thousands made homeless and vulnerable to disease.The UN fears more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone, with tens of thousands made homeless and vulnerable to disease.
AID PLEDGES UK $10mUN $10mJapan $10mUS $3mFrance $3mAustralia $2.8m In pictures: Cyclone survivorsRangoon's hardshipWorld wrestles with aid issue
It is expected to launch an appeal on Friday for $115m (£59m) in emergency food and relief, accoridng to Reuters news agency.
The World Health Organization says access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern.The World Health Organization says access to clean drinking water and outbreaks of communicable diseases such as dengue and malaria are a major concern.
It is sitting in a warehouse it is not in trucks heading to Irrawaddy Delta where it is critically needed Paul Risley World Food Programme World wrestles with aid issue
Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise.Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise.
Britain's ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, said authoritative sources were now speaking of between 63,000 and 100,000 people dead or missing.Britain's ambassador to Burma, Mark Canning, said authoritative sources were now speaking of between 63,000 and 100,000 people dead or missing.
Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say seven tonnes of high-energy biscuits have been distributed in the delta region, but 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 seven tonnes of high-energy biscuits have been distributed in the delta region, but they have reached only 10% of those that need help.
Despite this, Burma's foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday saying it was not ready to allow foreign aid workers to enter the country. The World Food Programme says discussions with the government will continue about the impounded aid - which includes 38 tonnes of high-energy biscuits, enough to feed 95,000 people.
The junta said it was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself. But regional director Tony Banbury said talks on Friday had stalled and he was worried that a national referendum being held on Saturday would scupper further negotiations.
"I don't know what channels will be open to us to communicate with the relevant authorities, and to encourage them to reverse this very unfortunate decision," he said.
'Murdering own people''Murdering own people'
WFP spokesman Paul Risley said two flights of "critically-needed food aid" - including 38 tonnes of high-energy biscuits - arrived in Burma on Friday but was confiscated. AID PLEDGES UK $10mUN $10mJapan $10mUS $3mFrance $3mAustralia $2.8m class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7391831.stm">In pictures: Cyclone survivors class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7389911.stm">Rangoon's hardship The BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Thailand says that given how little aid is getting into Burma, the confiscation of the food was a disappointing setback.
"We are very concerned that this food is not reaching - on day six after a cyclone - the very victims of that cyclone. 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
"We have appealed to the minister for social welfare to release that food as quickly as possible so that it can continue on its way south to the victims of the cyclone.
"It is sitting in a warehouse, it is not in trucks heading to Irrawaddy Delta where it is critically needed."
The BBC's Jonathan Head in neighbouring Thailand says that given how little aid is getting into Burma, this was a disappointing setback. EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION See map and satellite imagesSend us your comments
He said the military leaders appeared to be putting their pride and entrenched suspicion of foreigners before the lives of their people.He said the military leaders appeared to be putting their pride and entrenched suspicion of foreigners before the lives of their people.
One aid official told him the Burmese government was "murdering their own people by letting them die".One aid official told him the Burmese government was "murdering their own people by letting them die".
Tim Costello, from World Vision Australia, said aid workers in Burma were experiencing feelings of guilt about not being able to do enough and felt fear and frustration as a result of that.Tim Costello, from World Vision Australia, said aid workers in Burma were experiencing feelings of guilt about not being able to do enough and felt fear and frustration as a result of that.
"But their job is to work with the situation and keep hope alive and keep going," he told a Disasters Emergency Committee news conference in London."But their job is to work with the situation and keep hope alive and keep going," he told a Disasters Emergency Committee news conference in London.
The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma despite restrictions on journalists, says the survivors need more than food.The BBC's Paul Danahar, in southern Burma despite restrictions on journalists, says the survivors need more than food.
He says they have been cut off and helpless for seven days and are surrounded by tens of thousands of rotting corpses.He says they have been cut off and helpless for seven days and are surrounded by tens of thousands of rotting corpses.
What they really need, he says, is the corpses to be moved, clean water, shelter, and efforts to start rebuilding the devastated infrastructure.What they really need, he says, is the corpses to be moved, clean water, shelter, and efforts to start rebuilding the devastated infrastructure.
Thai pressureThai pressure
The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, says two trucks with shelter supplies are due to cross the border from Thailand on Saturday.The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, says two trucks with shelter supplies are due to cross the border from Thailand on Saturday.
Spokeswoman Vivian Tan said the agency had assurances from the government that it would be allowed to monitor the distribution process.Spokeswoman Vivian Tan said the agency had assurances from the government that it would be allowed to monitor the distribution process.
"It is a small drop in the ocean given the needs on the ground," she told the BBC. "But given the scale of the crisis we need to explore different delivery routes.""It is a small drop in the ocean given the needs on the ground," she told the BBC. "But given the scale of the crisis we need to explore different delivery routes."
Thailand's Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattma, said he would be asking his Burmese counterpart to be more flexible regarding the admission of aid and aid teams.Thailand's Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattma, said he would be asking his Burmese counterpart to be more flexible regarding the admission of aid and aid teams.
"Myanmar (Burma) should be more responsive to international assistance but we cannot force Myanmar to do it, we have to respect her own decision," he told the BBC."Myanmar (Burma) should be more responsive to international assistance but we cannot force Myanmar to do it, we have to respect her own decision," he told the BBC.
"But the Myanmar people should be at the centre of considerations.""But the Myanmar people should be at the centre of considerations."
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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