Ordinary Burmese are increasingly stepping in to help the country’s cyclone victims in the face of the chaotic efforts of their government.
They range from shopkeepers offering free rice porridge to medical students treating the countless sick. “They are true humanitarian heroes,” said Bridget Gardner, International Red Cross representative in Burma. She toured an area where volunteers who had lost their own homes gave first aid to the injured.
Others, including taxi drivers, wealthy factory owners, students, teachers and movie stars are organising in the commercial capital of Rangoon for gruelling trips into the Irrawaddy delta. They are taking up collections at offices and donating food, clothes and water.
Meanwhile the military regime is still restricting vital international aid. The junta, which has been accused of stockpiling aid supplies for its own use, yesterday made a show of threatening legal action against anyone hoarding or trading them. Reports have emerged that foreign aid was being sold openly in markets and that the military was pilfering and diverting aid for its own use.
The government says 38,491 people are known dead and 27,838 missing after the May 2-3 cyclone. The Red Crescent Societies and the International Federation of Red Cross estimated the death toll was between 69,000-128,000. The UN said more than 100,000 could have died.
The UN and the Red Cross say 1.6million-2.5million people are in urgent need of food, water and shelter. Only 270,000 have been reached so far by aid groups. Foreign aid, including water, blankets, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, medicines and tents, has been sent to Burma, but delivery has been slowed by bottlenecks, poor infrastructure and bureaucratic tangles.
The junta has allowed the UN and some other agencies to hand out the aid directly but barred the few foreign staff allowed into Burma from leaving Rangoon.
In a clear sign that politics is playing a role, the junta granted approval to 160 relief workers from India, China, Bangladesh and Thailand, which have rarely criticised Burma’s democracy record.
“There is a visible fence that we don’t dare cross,” said Tim Costello, of aid group World Vision. He said the group has delivered aid to 100,000 people in spite of the narrow parameters. But there are tens of thousands more who have not received help due to heavy rain and lack of helicopters and expert staff.
One medical student, Zaw Htin, who visited the village of Bogaley, said: “It was overwhelming even for us, who have seen a lot of suffering and death.”