“I’ve never seen an emergency situation such as this before. A week after the disaster, the entire humanitarian community is still sitting in another country, outside the affected area, looking for means to access the disaster zone.”
Greg Beck, Asia regional director of the International Rescue Committee.
May 9
John Holmes, the UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs, puts the death toll from Cyclone Nargis ranges from 63,000 to 100,000. The Myanmar government's announced toll is 22,000.
At a special session at the United Nations, the Myanmar ambassador says they will " accept aid from any corner". The UN has issued a "flash appeal" to its members to raise US$187.3 million in cyclone relief for Myanmar. Based on a quick assessment by more than 20 organizations, and it includes $56 million for food, nearly $50 million for logistics and about $20 million for shelter.
WFP resumes suspended air cargo deliveries, after two chartered plane loads of food aid were impounded in Yangon.
“Myanmar has got to open itself up to a major international effort very soon if we are not to face a second disaster, where infectious diseases and other problems start to take a significant toll.”
Richard Horsey, spokesman for a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The Myanmar government says it welcomes aid but not aid workers. However it is appearing to be more receptive to nationals of ASEAN countries. Aid workers holding Southeast Asian passports are being admitted into Myanmar more readily than others.
International discussions are underway on how to get aid into Myanmar. A proposal to issue a UN resolution forcing Myanmar to open its doors to aid has been rejected by China and Russia, saying it infringes national sovereignty. Calls have also been made to airdrop rations.
May 10
Myanmar goes ahead with referendum on a new constitution which guarantees 25 percent of parliamentary seats to the military. It will also allow the president to hand over all power to the military in a state of emergency and effectively bar Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from public office.
The referendum was held in most areas of the country but has been postponed for two weeks in places hit by the cyclone.
May 11
The first American airlift of 2,800 pounds of relief items land in Myanmar, with two more plane loads scheduled to arrive. US aid has now been raised to $16.25 million. The Myanmar government took control of the supplies, loading them onto helicopters when they arrived.
May 12
International attention shifts as a deadly earthquake hits Sichuan, China.
May 13
Myanmar's officials are accused by local aid groups of pilfering aid supplies and selling them on the black market. Survivors are also said be to be given poor-quality rations, with those distributing hoarding donations.
May 14
United Nations warns that death toll could now exceed 100,000, and estimates that 2.5 million have been affected.
Rains could severely worsen the flooding in cyclone-hit areas. 12 cm of rainfall is expected over the next few days. Hundreds of thousands are already stranded homeless without shelter.
May 15
Myanmar's government says that legal action will be taken against those who hoard aid supplies.
The official death toll is raised to 43,318. 27,838 are said to be missing.
Aid groups say they are not allowed beyond Yangon. Police are turning back foreigners at the city's checkpoints. ( Source: CNN)
International discussions are underway on how to get aid into Myanmar. A proposal to issue a UN resolution forcing Myanmar to open its doors to aid has been rejected by China and Russia, saying it infringes national sovereignty. Calls have also been made to airdrop rations.
May 10
Myanmar goes ahead with referendum on a new constitution which guarantees 25 percent of parliamentary seats to the military. It will also allow the president to hand over all power to the military in a state of emergency and effectively bar Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from public office.
The referendum was held in most areas of the country but has been postponed for two weeks in places hit by the cyclone.
May 11
The first American airlift of 2,800 pounds of relief items land in Myanmar, with two more plane loads scheduled to arrive. US aid has now been raised to $16.25 million. The Myanmar government took control of the supplies, loading them onto helicopters when they arrived.
May 12
International attention shifts as a deadly earthquake hits Sichuan, China.
May 13
Myanmar's officials are accused by local aid groups of pilfering aid supplies and selling them on the black market. Survivors are also said be to be given poor-quality rations, with those distributing hoarding donations.
May 14
United Nations warns that death toll could now exceed 100,000, and estimates that 2.5 million have been affected.
Rains could severely worsen the flooding in cyclone-hit areas. 12 cm of rainfall is expected over the next few days. Hundreds of thousands are already stranded homeless without shelter.
May 15
Myanmar's government says that legal action will be taken against those who hoard aid supplies.
The official death toll is raised to 43,318. 27,838 are said to be missing.
Aid groups say they are not allowed beyond Yangon. Police are turning back foreigners at the city's checkpoints. ( Source: CNN)
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