=====
Zomi says:
Almost one week now, and the paranoid, middle school educated Maung Than
Shwe (who graduated with Anglo-Vernacular 8th standard) has not yet
allowed
relief aid to come.
=====
US Senate demands Myanmar junta allow foreign aid
May 8, 2008 | 315 words , 1 image
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate has passed a resolution demanding that
cyclone-devastated Myanmar's military rulers lift restrictions on delivery
of foreign relief aid, congressional aides said Thursday.
The resolution, adopted unanimously late Wednesday, urged the Southeast
Asian state's military generals to "immediately lift restrictions" on
delivery of humanitarian assistance and allow "free and unfettered access"
to US and other disaster aid response teams.
The resolution proposed by, among others, Democratic Senator John Kerry
and
Republican Senator Dick Lugar said Congress was ready to approve
additional
funds, beyond existing emergency international disaster aid resources, to
help the people of Myanmar.
As the death toll estimates near 100,000, more than one million homeless
in
Myanmar were battling to stave off disease and hunger, with the military
government still limiting foreign assistance six days after a massive
cyclone.
The United States, one of the junta's most vocal critics, announced it was
not sending an aid flight after earlier saying it was, adding to the sense
of confusion and frustration over the international relief effort.
An official from the US government aid arm USAID said that some US
supplies
have already been sent to Myanmar through the United Nations.
The White House announced Tuesday that it was offering three million
dollars
more in aid to the secretive and impoverished country, on top of an
initial
emergency allocation of 250,000 dollars.
It also said that it was prepared to send four US Navy ships, laden with
emergency relief supplies like blankets and water purification tablets, to
Myanmar. The vessels were off Thailand's coast in a disaster-response
exercise.
Aid groups said Myanmar needs hundreds of planes to cope with Cyclone
Nargis, which barrelled into the impoverished state last week, unleashing
one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory.
http://www.mywire.com/pubs/AFP/2008/05/08/6413658?&pbl=7
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