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Burma death toll may reach more than 500,000. Worse than tsunami.

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X

Xeke

Banned
THE death toll in cyclone-ravaged Burma could hit 500,000 – more than TWICE the total killed by the Boxing Day Tsunami.

Last night’s warning came as it emerged that 17 Britons, including ex-pats and backpackers, were still missing.

Sources said 200,000 people were already dead or dying.

But the figure could rise to HALF A MILLION through disease and hunger if the nation’s hardline army rulers continue to block aid for the devastated lowlands of the Irrawaddy Delta.

That would dwarf the 230,000 deaths across South East Asia in the 2004 catastrophe.


Nyo Ohn Myint, of exiled opposition party The National League for Democracy, told The Sun at a border crisis centre: “Much of this will be a man-made disaster, caused by the military regime.

“The bodies need to be collected and burnt as soon as possible or disease will claim many more lives. But the government has organised nothing and its 400,000 soldiers are doing nothing while undistributed aid piles up.

See more pictures of the devastation in Burma

click for slideshow

“They are hoping bodies will be washed out to sea so the final count is smaller – but it could kill half a million people within a matter of weeks. The world must know what is going on.”

Disaster struck on Saturday when 120mph Cyclone Nargis forced ashore waves up to 20ft high. The Irrawaddy town of Labutta – population 80,000 – was wiped off the map.

Devastation ... map shows area

Devastation ... map shows area

Local doctor Aye Kyu told how families clung to trees as their homes were swept away.

He said: “I asked survivors how many there were left. They said about 200.”

A spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid said: “The entire lower delta region is under water.

Teams are talking about bodies floating around. This is a major, major disaster.”

The UN World Food Programme said up to a million may have been left homeless in the vital “rice bowl” farming region alone.

In the city of Bogalay, 95 per cent of homes are thought to have been destroyed.

In the township of Dedaye, south of the main city Rangoon, desperate kids scavenged among the debris of their homes for anything useful to survival.

On the outskirts of Rangoon forlorn families, including a mother cradling her screaming baby, queued for emergency handouts of rice.

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In Britain, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told MPs the situation was “grave”.

The UK has so far pledged more aid than anyone, announcing a £5million package to be channelled through the UN.

Charities Save the Children, Oxfam and the British Red Cross have also swung into action.

But most of the aid is yet to be distributed because of the secretive Burmese junta, led by ruthless General Than Shwe.

His isolationist regime is paranoid an influx of foreigners might have a political impact on a national referendum due tomorrow, set to strengthen the army’s grip still further.

Just four of the air force’s 80 helicopters have been used to move food, water and medical shipments.

In need ... baby cries

In need ... baby cries

Meanwhile, many desperately needed supplies remain in neighbouring countries awaiting clearance, along with aid workers denied visas.

Aid packages which have made it to Rangoon Airport were still on the tarmac.

There were fears that some could be stolen and sold on by corrupt officials.

Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, insisted: “We can’t wait for them any more.

“The Security Council must pass a resolution for aid delivery now.

“We need to see the British, French and US navies begin delivering assistance. Every extra day lost is causing the deaths of yet more innocent victims.”

The Burmese embassy in London claimed aid workers were not being allowed in because of fears for their safety.

An official said: “The Irrawaddy Delta region is hard to travel at the best of times. Once it is safe, we want more in the country as soon as possible.”
Click to expand...

I didn't see this anywhere and figured it was important. Sorry if old.
 
K

Kaeru

Banned
Fuck me.....


I hope this means the end of the regime on sight, they are idiots for not letting aid go through.
 
W

WickedAngel

Banned
The number just keeps rising drastically every day. I remember when they were reporting this as a few thousand and look at where we are now.

How do you even begin to recoup after something like this?
 
K

KRS7

Member
Fuck the junta running that country, I think we should send in help now. Let them try to stop us. I believe this is one action which the whole international community will back. Every hour we let that military dictatorship hold back aid, potentially thousands more will die.
 
T

titiklabingapat

Member
ASEAN is such a useless entity. What the fuck are they doing, still letting all of this happen?

Southeast Asia is fucked once China decides it's time for more resources.
 
B

BakedPigeon

Banned
Holy shit! How did I not know about this until now? That is just terrible, I hope people still caught up in all the aftermath can safely make it out.
 
Phoenix

Phoenix

Member
Its unfortunate that we've shat away our political capital so much that we can't actually DO anything about this.
 
S

speculawyer

Member
That is totally fucked up.

The US Navy and USAF should start flying C-130s over and dropping food, blankets, and water. Fuck the military junta of Myanmar . . . let them try to shoot down a US aircraft and they'll be hit by a radar seeking missile before they know it.

Edit: Do it Bush . . . use your beligerant behavior for good for a change! I'll thank you.
 
K

KRS7

Member
What the fuck is China doing about this? China is a bordering country to Myanmar. They are also one of the few government that Myanmar respects. China has repeatedly blocked both ASEAN and UN action on Myanmar, they are big supporters of the current government. Instead of focusing on the fucking Olympics why doesn't China work to help the hundreds of thousands of suffering people just south of them.
 
Escape Goat

Escape Goat

Member
KRS7 said:
What the fuck is China doing about this? China is a bordering country to Myanmar. They are also one of the few government that Myanmar respects. China has repeatedly blocked both ASEAN and UN action on Myanmar, they are big supporters of the current government. Instead of focusing on the fucking Olympics why doesn't China work to help the hundreds of thousands of suffering people just south of them.
Click to expand...


We are China.
 
B

BakedPigeon

Banned
speculawyer said:
That is totally fucked up.

The US Navy and USAF should start flying C-130s over and dropping food, blankets, and water. Fuck the military junta of Myanmar . . . let them try to shoot down a US aircraft and they'll be hit by a radar seeking missile before they know it.
Click to expand...

Other countries besides the US are more then capable of providing aid as well you know. The world really needs to come together right now and do something positive, in these fucked up times.
 
S

speculawyer

Member
BakedPigeon said:
Other countries besides the US are more then capable of providing aid as well you know. The world really needs to come together right now and do something positive, in these fucked up times.
Click to expand...
We are capable of providing plenty of aid. The Pacific fleet can start dumping MREs soon. Just do it. We need to start re-building our repuation. Our behavior after the Tsunamis greatly helped us in the Islamic world. (Well at least in indonesia)
 
Phoenix

Phoenix

Member
speculawyer said:
We are capable of providing plenty of aid. The Pacific fleet can start dumping MREs soon. Just do it. We need to start re-building our repuation. Our behavior after the Tsunamis greatly helped us in the Islamic world. (Well at least in indonesia)
Click to expand...


In before oil tirade.
 
A

avatar299

Banned
KRS7 said:
Fuck the junta running that country, I think we should send in help now. Let them try to stop us. I believe this is one action which the whole international community will back. Every hour we let that military dictatorship hold back aid, potentially thousands more will die.
Click to expand...
You're saying you won't complain if Bush sends military force?

Let's just make this clear, put it on record
 
T

Tideas

Banned
500k is 1% OF THEIR TOTAL POP.

that is equivalent to 3 million americans dying.

or every single soul in Los Angeles city
 
B

BudokaiMR2

Member
Godfucking damnit.

This world is going down the fucking shitter more and more. How can shit like this just go by with nothing happening. THIS IS THE FUCKING TIME TO TAKE ACTION!
 
C

Chris R

Member
Now here is a quick question? Why haven't the powerhouses ordered an invasion to deliver aid and dispose of this shitty government?
 
K

KRS7

Member
avatar299 said:
You're saying you won't complain if Bush sends military force?

Let's just make this clear, put it on record
Click to expand...

The goal of any action should be to get aid to the victims. We should send in aid while military force should be used as a last resort, and only if our aid forces are attacked. So I wouldn't complain, because failing to act is probably allowing thousands to die every day.
 
S

speculawyer

Member
avatar299 said:
You're saying you won't complain if Bush sends military force?

Let's just make this clear, put it on record
Click to expand...
Yes . . . use the military force to drop aid instead of bombs. Go for it.
 
E

ElyrionX

Member
It's called Myanmar. Not Burma. I guess, asking journalists to get their facts right is a bit too much to ask for some times.
 
F

Futureman

Member
ElyrionX said:
It's called Myanmar. Not Burma. I guess, asking journalists to get their facts right is a bit too much to ask for some times.
Click to expand...

Well it was Burma before a military dictatorship took power. You can understand some wanting to call it Burma still.
 
E

ElyrionX

Member
rhfb said:
Now here is a quick question? Why haven't the powerhouses ordered an invasion to deliver aid and dispose of this shitty government?
Click to expand...

Because political and economic concerns triumph whatever contribution Myanmar brings to the global economy? In short, they have no significant natural or economic resources so the world doesn't give a shit. Politicians don't care as much as about providing humanitarian aid to any country as much as their own political career.

And an "invasion" isn't something as easy to pull off as you imagine?
 
N

NotWii

Banned
This whole thing stinks to high heaven.

The United States already has a small task force in Thailand for the exercise that could be used for a relief effort, including six large transport planes.
Click to expand...
They were training for a relief effort, and then it happens while they're doing the exercise.
It's like the London bombings and 911 'training exercises' that went on as the real thing 'coincidentally' happened.

It was a HAARP test.
No wonder they don't want US aid.
 
G

gconsole

Member
What the fuck is Junta thinking? And what the fuck with burmese people doing nothing with their current government (even if it's difficult to fight with the military). Myanmar is now officially worst part of asia.
 
O

okno

Member
WickedAngel said:
The number just keeps rising drastically every day. I remember when they were reporting this as a few thousand and look at where we are now.
Click to expand...

you make it seem like it happened so long ago...

I can't believe the extent to which this tornado has devastated Burma... This is so ridiculous, I'm just awestruck. I never thought I'd witness something like this happen in my life.
 
R

RumFore

Banned
China should be stepping being that there blocking western help.

gconsole said:
What the fuck is Junta thinking? And what the fuck with burmese people doing nothing with their current government (even if it's difficult to fight with the military). Myanmar is now officially worst part of asia.
Click to expand...
Cant blame the people. Last time they held protest they were fired on according to CNN.
 
K

Kipz

massive bear, tiny salmon
Tideas said:
500k is 1% OF THEIR TOTAL POP.

that is equivalent to 3 million americans dying.

or every single soul in Los Angeles city
Click to expand...
People in Los Angeles don't have souls.
 
P

Pachael

Member
Well it won't help anybody if Myanmar's not letting anybody in!

AP said:
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The United Nations says Myanmar's refusal to give visas to relief experts is "unprecedented" in the history of humanitarian work.

A spokesman of the World Food Program says the organization has submitted 10 visa applications around the world, including six in Bangkok, Thailand, and none of have been granted.

Spokesman Paul Risley said Friday "the frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts."

Myanmar's military government said more than 62,000 people died or are missing in a cyclone that hit the country's Irrawaddy delta last Saturday. The junta says it needs international aid but not the foreign experts and staff to deliver it.

No visas are expected to be issued in Bangkok on Friday because of a Thai holiday.
Click to expand...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5greyFH3qkj9mc9oagSoulgjN4KHgD90HTE586

Right, no visas because of a holiday. Hello? Paperwork delay? No visas have been granted?

Reuters said:
YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta turned back a disaster rescue team that arrived in Yangon from Qatar because the flight only had permission to deliver aid supplies, an official paper said on Friday.

"Myanmar is not in a position to receive rescue and information teams from foreign countries at the moment," the government-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper said in a report on the aid operation slowly building up for survivors Cyclone Nargis.

"But at present Myanmar is giving priority to receiving relief aid and distributing them to the storm hit regions with its own resources," it said.

The Qatar plane was one of 12 international relief flights that landed in the former capital on Thursday, the paper said.

Outside frustration is mounting at delays by the generals in giving visas to aid workers and landing rights for flights, including those from the U.S. military, which has supply planes on standby in neighboring Thailand.

The Pentagon has ordered four U.S. Navy ships now in Thailand on exercises to start steaming towards the former Burma's cyclone-striken Irrawaddy delta in the hope that the green light will eventually come.

A steady flow of aid flights, including some from the United Nations but mainly from Asian governments, is now landing in Yangon.

Experts say it is woefully short of the massive relief operation needed for a disaster that has severely affected 1.5 million people. The official death toll still stands at nearly 23,000, although experts fear it could be as high as 100,000.

The junta is holding a referendum on an army-drafted constitution on Saturday in all but the worst-affected parts of the country. Its opponents have suggested the delays are because it does not want an influx of foreigners before the vote.
Click to expand...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSBKK13149620080509

Well, yeah. Thanks for the supplies gang, but we don't need your team. Piss off and go home. WTF. And we're talking to Qatar here. Qatar!
 
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