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The One · 05-06-2008, 10:07 AM

SOURCE:- NDTV.com: At least 22,000 feared dead in Myanmar cyclone

At least 22,000 feared dead in Myanmar cyclone

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (Yangon, Myanmar)
At least 22,000 people have died in Myanmar after the devastating Cyclone Nargis struck on May 2. The death toll is still rising. Authorities are trying to reach the islands and villages which are still cut off from the rest of the country.

The cyclone has caused huge devastation in Myanmar. The diplomatically-isolated military junta out of no choice had to ask for international help. The junta made a rare appeal for help to the outside world, who had denied any need of help in the aftermath of the tsunami.

There has been a massive international response for help with two Indian naval ships on their way to Myanmar to provide the necessary relief.

India has already sent two warships from the Andamans, armed with food and medicine.

The UN is organising drinking water, plastic sheeting and food through its only two agencies that operate inside Burma -- the UN Children's fund and its development programme.

''The United Nations will do whatever to provide urgent humanitarian assistance,'' said Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations.

Nature's fury could not have hit the Burmese at a worse time, months after a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors and just days before a planned referendum on the constitution.

The United States has released aid but first lady Laura Bush came down heavily on the military regime for its poor response to the disaster.

''It is troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America sounded the alarm,'' said Laura Bush.

''Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storms path. The response to the cyclone is just the most recent example of the junta's failure to meet it's peoples' basic needs,'' she added.

The death toll has crossed 13,000, making Nargis the worst storm to hit the Indian Ocean, since the Tsunami of 2004.

Referendum delayed

Myanmar announced on Tuesday that it is delaying a crucial constitutional referendum in areas badly hit by a cyclone that may have killed nearly 15,000 people and left as many as a million homeless. Officials feared the death toll could soar.

State radio said Saturday's vote on a military-backed draft constitution would be delayed until May 24 in 40 of 45 townships in the Yangon area and seven in the Irrawaddy delta, which took the brunt of the weekend storm.

It indicated that the balloting would proceed in other areas as scheduled.

Foreign Minister Nyan Win was quoted by state-run television as saying over 10,000 people had perished in the low-lying delta and a smaller number died in and around Yangon, the country's largest city.

''News and data are still being collected, so there may be many more casualties,'' the minister said.

05-06-2008, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
The One Patron Join Date: 08-30-07 Location: JABALPUR [M.P.] Posts: 265 Country:	At least 22,000 feared dead in Myanmar cyclone SOURCE:- NDTV.com: At least 22,000 feared dead in Myanmar cyclone At least 22,000 feared dead in Myanmar cyclone Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (Yangon, Myanmar) At least 22,000 people have died in Myanmar after the devastating Cyclone Nargis struck on May 2. The death toll is still rising. Authorities are trying to reach the islands and villages which are still cut off from the rest of the country. The cyclone has caused huge devastation in Myanmar. The diplomatically-isolated military junta out of no choice had to ask for international help. The junta made a rare appeal for help to the outside world, who had denied any need of help in the aftermath of the tsunami. There has been a massive international response for help with two Indian naval ships on their way to Myanmar to provide the necessary relief. India has already sent two warships from the Andamans, armed with food and medicine. The UN is organising drinking water, plastic sheeting and food through its only two agencies that operate inside Burma -- the UN Children's fund and its development programme. ''The United Nations will do whatever to provide urgent humanitarian assistance,'' said Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations. Nature's fury could not have hit the Burmese at a worse time, months after a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors and just days before a planned referendum on the constitution. The United States has released aid but first lady Laura Bush came down heavily on the military regime for its poor response to the disaster. ''It is troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America sounded the alarm,'' said Laura Bush. ''Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storms path. The response to the cyclone is just the most recent example of the junta's failure to meet it's peoples' basic needs,'' she added. The death toll has crossed 13,000, making Nargis the worst storm to hit the Indian Ocean, since the Tsunami of 2004. Referendum delayed Myanmar announced on Tuesday that it is delaying a crucial constitutional referendum in areas badly hit by a cyclone that may have killed nearly 15,000 people and left as many as a million homeless. Officials feared the death toll could soar. State radio said Saturday's vote on a military-backed draft constitution would be delayed until May 24 in 40 of 45 townships in the Yangon area and seven in the Irrawaddy delta, which took the brunt of the weekend storm. It indicated that the balloting would proceed in other areas as scheduled. Foreign Minister Nyan Win was quoted by state-run television as saying over 10,000 people had perished in the low-lying delta and a smaller number died in and around Yangon, the country's largest city. ''News and data are still being collected, so there may be many more casualties,'' the minister said.