KESQ.com Palm Springs, Coachella Valley - Weather, News, Sports: Myanmar junta members distribute foreign aid boxes with generals' names on them

KESQ.com Palm Springs, Coachella Valley - Weather, News, Sports: Myanmar junta members distribute foreign aid boxes with generals' names on them: "- Myanmar's military regime has been handing out international relief supplies after having generals' names plastered on the boxes.

Election day news coverage showed top generals handing out aid boxes in elaborate ceremonies."

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Exile aid for Nargis

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Exile aid for Nargis: "Cyclone-ravaged Myanmar has refused relief from the UN, but its citizens abroad could put the country’s military rulers to shame.

About one lakh Myanmarese refugees living in India have begun efforts to help their countrymen back home.

In the national capital, the refugees today set up the “India relief fund for Cyclone Nargis survivors”."

U.N. aid for Myanmar seized -- -- baltimoresun.com

U.N. aid for Myanmar seized -- -- baltimoresun.com: "YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's military leaders seized U.N. aid shipments headed for cyclone survivors and told the top U.S. diplomat there yesterday that they're not ready to let in American aid workers, despite warnings that the country is on the verge of a medical catastrophe."

ABC News: Amid Stench of Death, Myanmar Holds Vote

ABC News: Amid Stench of Death, Myanmar Holds Vote: "Myanmar's ruling generals today appeared more interested in promoting the vote that will entrench their rule than they were in the hundreds of thousands of their people who are drinking coconut milk because they have no clean water, who are sleeping under the stars because they have no homes, who haven't had electricity since the storm hit."

AFP: Aid groups hit out at Myanmar over delays

AFP: Aid groups hit out at Myanmar over delays: "BANGKOK (AFP) — At least one million survivors remain without aid more than a week after a deadly cyclone ripped through Myanmar, the UN said Saturday, with emergency supply shipments still held up by the regime.

Relief experts say time is running out for stricken people in the country's southwest delta who are desperately waiting for food, drinking water and medicine, and that the junta is not acting quickly enough."

globeandmail.com: Advance team lands in Thailand to pave way for relief deployment

globeandmail.com: Advance team lands in Thailand to pave way for relief deployment: "OTTAWA -- A reconnaissance unit from the Canadian Forces' disaster assistance response team landed in Thailand yesterday to pave the way for a possible deployment to cyclone-stricken Myanmar.

The Canadian advance team touched down in Bangkok the same day that the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion calling on reclusive Myanmar to open its borders to foreign aid workers."

The CNN Wire: Latest updates on top stories Blog Archive - U.N. seeks $187 million for Myanmar relief « - Blogs from CNN.com

The CNN Wire: Latest updates on top stories Blog Archive - U.N. seeks $187 million for Myanmar relief « - Blogs from CNN.com: "WASHINGTON (CNN) — The United Nations issued a “flash appeal” to its members Friday to raise $187.3 million in cyclone relief for Myanmar."

Burma aid workers hit by visa delays - World - theage.com.au

Burma aid workers hit by visa delays - World - theage.com.au: "Aid agencies seeking access to Burma to provide relief to the cyclone-ravaged nation are being delayed by the slow processing of visas."

U.N. Pressures Myanmar to Allow Aid - New York Times

U.N. Pressures Myanmar to Allow Aid - New York Times: "With up to 1.5 million people in Myanmar now believed to be facing the threat of starvation and disease and with relief efforts still largely stymied by the country’s isolationist military rulers, frustrated United Nations officials all but demanded Thursday that the government open its doors to supplies and aid workers."

India plans to send more medical supplies to cyclone-hit Myanmar-India-The Times of India

India plans to send more medical supplies to cyclone-hit Myanmar-India-The Times of India: "The MEA said that the damage caused by the cyclone was much more extensive than feared earlier and that the external affairs minister has conveyed to his counterpart in Myanmar India's readiness to offer help.

An IL-76 aircraft carrying tents, medicine and roofing material reached Yangon on Thursday. Another IL-76 aircraft will be leaving Delhi on Saturday for Yangon."

Relief effort to concentrate on health and sanitation in disaster zone

Relief effort to concentrate on health and sanitation in disaster zone: "KUALA LUMPUR: The first two Mercy Malaysia's relief officers who flew over to Myanmar on Wednesday night have started to establish contacts there.

Mercy Malaysia general manager Mona Hanim Sheikh Mahmud said Hew Cheong Yew and Hafidzi Ahmad Bunian, arrived safely in Yangon at 8am yesterday.

“The letter of support from the Myanmar Embassy here helped,” she said here yesterday."

UN Suspends Aid Shipment to Burma

UN Suspends Aid Shipment to Burma: "The UN announced on Friday that it has suspended all aid shipments to Burma, following the junta’s seizure of all food and equipment of the World Food Program (WFP)."

Khaleej Times Online - UAE planeload of relief to Myanmar tomorrow

Khaleej Times Online - UAE planeload of relief to Myanmar tomorrow: "UAE planeload of relief to Myanmar tomorrow
By Zoe Sinclair |and Ahmed Abdul Aziz (Our staff reporters)

9 May 2008


DUBAI — UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS) will dispatch an urgent relief plane tomorrow to offer humanitarian assistance to Myanmar which was hit by cyclone Nargis, said Khamees El Swaidi, Head of RCS in Sharjah.

He told Khaleej Times yesterday that the plane will fly next week with a relief team to help the people affected by the cyclone which left more than 50,000 killed and almost 20,000 in bad condition."

Myanmar turns down U.S. aid | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Myanmar turns down U.S. aid | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press: "YANGON, Myanmar -- Relief supplies from the United Nations arrived in Myanmar on Thursday, but the country's military government denied access to U.S. military planes loaded with aid, five days after a devastating cyclone."

BBC NEWS | UK | UK pledges £5m in aid for Burma

BBC NEWS | UK | UK pledges £5m in aid for Burma: "Britain has promised £5m to Burma to help the survivors of a cyclone that struck on Saturday leaving more than 22,000 dead and many more missing."

Top Stories: Springs nonprofits find it’s hard to help after Myanmar cyclone | myanmar, food, vandyke : Gazette.com

Top Stories: Springs nonprofits find it’s hard to help after Myanmar cyclone | myanmar, food, vandyke : Gazette.com: "It's a sentiment shared by several Colorado Springs nonprofits that are trying to provide help to the victims of Saturday's devastating cyclone in the country once known as Burma.

The country's regime has prevented most foreign aid from reaching an estimated 1.5 million survivors. Experts estimate that at least 22,980 have been killed and 42,119 remain missing. But the death toll could exceed 100,000, experts say, because of the scarcity of safe food and drinking wate"

Corpses dot waterways of Myanmar's stricken delta | Reuters

Corpses dot waterways of Myanmar's stricken delta | Reuters: "The grieving farmer carries a photograph of two of his daughters in the breast pocket of his shirt.

He said it is the only assistance he has.

'There are no NGO's here. No U.N. Only me.'

Several Asian governments including Thailand, China, Indonesia, Singapore and India have flown in supplies, but the military government has dragged its feet in allowing aid experts from United Nations agencies and western countries."

Myanmar refuses to grant visas for relief workers - 09 May 2008 - NZ Herald: World / International News

Myanmar refuses to grant visas for relief workers - 09 May 2008 - NZ Herald: World / International News: "YANGON - The UN blasted Myanmar's military government Friday, saying its refusal to let in foreign aid workers was 'unprecedented' in the history of humanitarian work, while survivors of a devastating cyclone waited for food, shelter and medicine."

New Zealand contributes further 1 million NZ dollars for Myanmar relief _English_Xinhua

New Zealand contributes further 1 million NZ dollars for Myanmar relief _English_Xinhua: "- New Zealand will contribute another one million NZ dollars (773,000 U.S. dollars) to the United Nations efforts to help Myanmar recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced on Thursday.

Clark said the money will be made via NZAID and is in addition to the 500,000 NZ dollars pledged Wednesday to New Zealand aid and relief agencies involved in Myanmar."

FOXNews.com - Myanmar Clears First Airlift Carrying Aid, U.S. Planes Still Blocked - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europ

FOXNews.com - Myanmar Clears First Airlift Carrying Aid, U.S. Planes Still Blocked - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "Relief supplies from the United Nations began arriving in Myanmar Thursday, but U.S. military planes loaded with aid were still denied access by the country's isolationist regime five days after a devastating cyclone."

Google Tries To Help After Myanmar Cyclone | WebProNews

Google Tries To Help After Myanmar Cyclone | WebProNews: "When Google's making an important announcement, posts will sometimes appear on more than one corporate blog. Posts relating to Myanmar have been put on at least three, and the Google homepage has been altered, as well."

TODAYonline

TODAYonline: "The widespread physical devastation aside, the human toll from Cyclone Nargis' fury is staggering: The number of fatalities may climb to as high as 60,000 while more than 1 million people may have lost their homes.
.
In an acknowledgement of the dire straits the country is now in, Myanmar's normally-xenophobic military regime issued a rare appeal for urgent international aid on Tuesday."

U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts Hampered - washingtonpost.com

U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts Hampered - washingtonpost.com: "Americans are responding to the devastation wrought by the cyclone in Burma last week with an outpouring of support to U.S. charities and disaster relief groups, but geopolitics are complicating their efforts."

Myanmar relief efforts pick up as death toll rises -- -- Newsday.com

Myanmar relief efforts pick up as death toll rises -- -- Newsday.com: "As the death toll from the Myanmar cyclone rose to at least 100,000, U.S. relief efforts picked up yesterday, with donations trickling in to nongovernmental organizations as U.S. and Myanmar authorities eased controls on philanthropy.

'They are realizing that even though they say they have the capacity to respond that that's wishful thinking, and they realize they need help,' said Maureen Aung-Thwin, director of the Burma Project/Southeast Asian Initiative, in Manhattan. '[The cyclone] is much more massive than anybody thought.'"

World concern over use of donated funds | World news | The Guardian

World concern over use of donated funds | World news | The Guardian: "Fundraising efforts to help victims of the Burmese cyclone are being complicated by concern that the junta may misuse funds and block aid workers from reaching some of the worst-hit areas.

Potential British donors have voiced fears that the Burmese government is not doing more to help its own people. Major charities are also struggling to assure institutional donors that their money will be spent effectively in Burma."

More than one million could be homeless after cyclone, warns charity - icWales

More than one million could be homeless after cyclone, warns charity - icWales: "We are one of the biggest international non-governmental organisations (INGO) working in Burma with 500 national staff working from 35 offices across the country. We have project sites in all of the five states and divisions and since Monday our staff has been on the ground distributing aid to 30,000 people. Save the Children is providing food, water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, kitchen equipment and rehydration salts to treat diarrhoea to people in the worst-hit regions of Yangon and we are putting in place the logistical resources, including trucks and boats, to distribute shelter equipment, food and medication to people living in the remote areas of the rural delta region."

Ships, planes carry relief supplies to Myanmar for cyclone victims despite visa holdup

Ships, planes carry relief supplies to Myanmar for cyclone victims despite visa holdup: "GENEVA (AP) - Ships and cargo planes carried relief supplies to Myanmar on Wednesday while organizations distributed food and other aid to people left homeless by a devastating cyclone, officials said.
Myanmar's government stalled on issuing visas to aid workers, hampering relief operations. But U.N. and other agencies said they were making progress in persuading"

Global response to Myanmar cyclone victims - International Herald Tribune

Global response to Myanmar cyclone victims - International Herald Tribune: "Initial aid offerings to help an estimated 1 million people made homeless by the cyclone in Myanmar in addition to shipments by the U.N., Red Cross and other aid organizations:"

Make a tax-deductible donation to projects supporting myanmar disaster relief | GlobalGiving

A updated landing page from Global Giving.

Make a tax-deductible donation to projects supporting myanmar disaster relief | GlobalGiving: "he devastating Myanmar cyclone has killed over 22000 people, and thousands are still missing. A state of emergency has been declared in five regions: the capital city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. There is massive flooding, power loss, and damage to houses and other buildings. Support short-term relief and longer-term rebuilding efforts through these projects."

Laura Bush and the Myanmar Relief Effort - Philanthropy.com

Via the Chronicle Give and Take Blog

Laura Bush and the Myanmar Relief Effort - Philanthropy.com: "Laura Bush and the Myanmar Relief Effort

In appealing to help for victims of the cyclone in Myanmar, First Lady Laura Bush should have known better than to “mindlessly repeat the toothless U.S. policy positions on a government we disapprove of,” writes RIchard Walden on the Huffington Post."

Ships, planes carry relief supplies to Myanmar for cyclone victims despite visa holdup - International Herald Tribune

Ships, planes carry relief supplies to Myanmar for cyclone victims despite visa holdup - International Herald Tribune: "The international relief effort for hundreds of thousands of Myanmar cyclone victims picked up speed Wednesday as India dispatched two planeloads of aid and Myanmar authorized the United Nations to send air shipments, officials said."

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Offers of help face logistics and visa hurdles | Natural Disasters | News Item

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Offers of help face logistics and visa hurdles | Natural Disasters | News Item: "So far, shipments of emergency relief supplies from India, Thailand and other Asian countries have been sent, and the local Red Cross has also been distributing materials they had stockpiled in the country. Major donors have made multimillion-dollar funding pledges and some non-governmental organisations have launched appeals for cash."

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: BlogHers Act and Other Ways to Help Myanmar Cyclone Victims

A variety of Coverage from Beth's Blog

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: BlogHers Act and Other Ways to Help Myanmar Cyclone Victims: "Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar last weekend devastating five regions. Channel NewsAsia reported that more than 22,000 people are dead with another 41,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless. The media reports are horrific. 'Witnesses described images of rice field littered with corpses.' Save the Children, one of the few relief agencies allowed to operate in-country, said the toll would rise sharply in the coming days as more victims were found in difficult to reach areas.

The photos, videos, and blog reports are giving us vivid citizen accounts. Global Voices, South Asia Editor, Mong Palatino, offers this round up of what blogs in the region are reporting, including these eye witness accounts."

Situation Reports; Contributions: Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis - May 2008, Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Situation Reports; Contributions: Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis - May 2008, Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis OCHA Situation Report No. 3: "II. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The Government has said it will receive international aid. The UN has been in close consultation with Government about the need for international support, which is available across all the key priority areas. Issuance of visas for critical humanitarian actors as soon will greatly enhance the international community's ability to meet the needs identified by the Government. This is a critical moment for Myanmar's vulnerable populations. In the next few days assessments must be provided or thousands more could die."

Aid for Myanmar Mobilizes, Mixed With Criticism - New York Times

Aid for Myanmar Mobilizes, Mixed With Criticism - New York Times: "While Myanmar, formerly Burma, has accepted only a trickle of aid, the information minister, Kyaw Hsan, said Tuesday that the country would be seeking assistance “from at home and abroad.” A United Nations spokeswoman in Geneva said disaster assessment officials were awaiting visas to enter Myanmar."

Capital charity to help cyclone victims - Scotsman.com News

Capital charity to help cyclone victims - Scotsman.com News: "Mercy Corps is working with fellow aid agencies to bring relief to families affected by the disaster, which have left up to 22,000 people dead. City-based fund manager, Artemis Investment Managers, have pledged £25,000 to the charity to help with its response."

Arab Times :: Cyclone dead tops 22,500

Arab Times :: Cyclone dead tops 22,500: "Cyclone dead tops 22,500

YANGON (Agencies): Myanmar’s military government raised its death toll from Cyclone Nargis on Tuesday to more than 22,500 with a further 41,000 missing, nearly all of them from a massive storm surge that swept into the vast Irrawaddy delta. Of the dead, only 671 were in the former capital, Yangon, and its outlying districts, state radio said, confirming Nargis as the most devastating cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people died in Bangladesh. “More deaths were caused by the tidal wave than the storm itself,” Minister for Relief and Resettlement Maung Maung Swe told a news conference in the rubble-strewn former capital, Yangon, where food and water supplies are running low. “The wave was up to 12 feet (3.5 metres) high and it swept away and inundated half the houses in low-lying villages,” he said, giving the first detailed description of the weekend cyclone. “They did not have anywhere to flee.”"

Burma Says Storm Killed 15,000 - washingtonpost.com

Burma Says Storm Killed 15,000 - washingtonpost.com: "Burma's government, which is traditionally wary of international aid workers, issued a rare appeal for outside help. The United Nations, the United States, Britain and the European Union all expressed willingness to assist, while India said Monday that it was already dispatching two naval ships with relief supplies."

Aid agencies begin difficult relief operation in Burma | World news | guardian.co.uk

Aid agencies begin difficult relief operation in Burma | World news | guardian.co.uk: "nternational aid workers are beginning the task of trying to get emergency supplies to the thousands of people stranded by cyclone Nargis in Burma, as charities describe the devastation as similar to the tsunami that struck Asia in 2004.

Teams of disaster specialists are on their way to the region. Save the Children already has 500 staff there but more are flying out as the scale of the situation emerges."

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Aid call as Burma casualties rise

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Aid call as Burma casualties rise: "International agencies are pushing to gain access for a massive aid operation in Burma, where the toll from Saturday's cyclone continues to rise.

Up to 15,000 people are said to have died in the disaster, and many more are missing, officials say.

Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut off.

Burma's leaders say they will accept external help, in a move correspondents say reflects the scale of the disaster."