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sterbo

I hear ya.
I'll just stick with what I know best; the sea
No anti-aircraft. Just high powered gunboats, subs, and misc. rebel factions.

As they say, Where there's a will there's a way...
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sterbo

"Progress" update -

Burma junta 'seals cyclone zone'
Aid agencies say supplies are urgently needed in affected areasBurma's military rulers have tightened access to areas hit by Cyclone Nargis, in spite of international pleas to allow foreign aid workers in.
A UN official in Rangoon says the military has erected more checkpoints to make sure foreigners cannot get to the worst-affected areas.

Thai leader Samak Sundaravej held talks with the junta, but failed to broker a deal on access for foreigners.

Meanwhile forecasters say another cyclone is forming off Burma's coast.

Aid agencies are warning that the ruling generals' refusal to sanction a major international relief effort will cause more deaths.

The military say more than 34,000 people have perished - but international bodies estimate the toll to be closer to 100,000, with millions in need of help.

The continuing diplomatic efforts come amid more dire warnings of the consequences of the cyclone.

The UN's food agency says Burma will face food shortages if farmers cannot return to their fields in the next 90 days.

"If we are not able to plant before the monsoon, we will have a serious shortage of rice in the country," said Leon Gouws, of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Another UN body, the International Organization for Migration, says it may already be too late to save the many victims who are in need of aid.

"Maybe we should already be looking at rebuilding projects instead of emergency relief," said the IOM's Chris Lom.

"There's been an opportunity lost - in terms of immediate response, maybe we're too late for that."

Residents have told the BBC's Burmese service how private citizens have been trying to distribute water and supplies from their own cars - but soldiers have been confiscating the goods.

A BBC correspondent in Burma described aid delivery as "unco-ordinated and piecemeal".

He said one devastated village - with one-quarter of its 400 houses left standing - had received just one bag of rice from the government.

Aid agencies say trucks, boats, helicopters and more personnel are urgently needed.


(Source URL: BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Burma junta 'seals cyclone zone')
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Andrew87

Well sterbo, I guess I must apologize for bringing up what seemed like a glimmer of hope.

I suppose until the Burmese government/military is able to swallow its pride and accept help, there is nothing anyone can do. No use in getting all bent out of shape due to something you have no control over.

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sterbo

Andrew, no need to apologize. I'm not criticizing you. My concern is simply that we don't offer up illusions of hope that results in people taking their eye off the ball.

I'm still perplexed as to why you say that. There is endless opportunity to help by anyone who wishes to.
As an example I've pointed out what a number of friends of mine have been able to do.
Maybe our small contribution seems so insignificant to you that it appears meaningless but I was raised to get bent out of shape over the suffering of others.
And if I can offer even one single person a glimmer of hope (or more) when all seems lost, then I will do so, no matter if I have help or not...

Trocisp

If I had a boat that would take the journey, I would go to costco and buy a few hundred bags of rice myself (they're like a few USD for a 10 pound bag) and deliver them - if I could.

However, even if I had a boat there's no way to say for certain that they'd take the aide... Which is the worst part of all.

__________________
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"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." - Sir Winston Churchill
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sterbo

The supplies we got in were, in a manner of speaking, 'off the radar'.
We gave them to the locals directly so of course they took (and will take) them...

Trocisp

I still lack a boat...

And I'm on the wrong coast!

sterbo

I hear ya, but understand that everything helps.
That includes moral support and so you have my thanks...

sterbo

Burma 'guilty of inhuman action'

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned Burma's military government for not allowing international aid to reach the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Mr Brown told the BBC that a natural disaster had been turned into a "man-made catastrophe" because of the negligence of the ruling generals.

There is growing condemnation of Burma's response to the 2 May cyclone, said to have killed at least 78,000.

France has said Burma is on the verge of committing a crime against humanity.

Burma has refused to allow in French and US aid ships which are waiting off the coast.

In addition to the dead, some 56,000 people are officially reported missing.
'This is inhuman'
Mr Brown said Burma's ruling generals would be judged by the world and their own people for thwarting the assistance offered by the rest of the world.

"This is inhuman," he said.

"It is being made into a man-made catastrophe..."

Asked if he believed it was time for dropping aid by air, Mr Brown said nothing was being ruled out.
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BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Burma 'guilty of inhuman action')

JohnBoySmoker

The best you can do is just offer it to them. If they don't want help, they won't take help.
BTW...the junta has lots of food and in their eyes, thats the only people that matter.