Burma it can't wait
On Friday May 2, Cyclone Nargis hit southwestern Burma with winds at speeds of 120 mph. 5 divisions in Burma have been declared national disaster areas - Pegu, Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Mon and Karen. The numbers of those affected continues to skyrocket. It has been hard to estimate the death toll because it has been impossible to get access to some of the worst hit areas- but as of right the numbers range from 22,000 to 60,000 dead, with tens of thousand missing and hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions displaced. Many older Burmese are saying this is the worst storm they have ever seen and international media is claiming this to be the worst natural disaster in Asia since the 2004 tsunami.
The Burmese government’s response has been atrocious. They were aware days in advance that the cyclone was coming, but chose not to warn the people know so that they could prepare. Furthermore, many reports came in that the government was giving minimal assistance to the destroyed areas, responding with guns instead of aid. Many countries and international organizations have offered assistance, but their efforts are being controlled and blocked by the paranoid Burmese government...
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Labels: love, Why are we here
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posted by NeoN @ 5/11/2008 08:09:00 AM
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