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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Myanmar death toll may rise very sharply - U.N.
2008-05-08
The number of people killed in Myanmar by Cyclone Nargis may rise "very significantly" beyond the government's official estimate, the top U.N. humanitarian official said on Wednesday.

John Holmes, U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, gave no precise estimate of how much the death toll could rise. Myanmar's military government has said nearly 23,000 people died and 41,000 are missing because of the cyclone. "We have no means of independently verifying those figures," he told reporters. "It would not surprise me if they continued to rise and maybe rise very significantly in the future."
One of the reasons why you can't verify the figures is because the Burmese generals won't let you. Think about that a while, it helps explain the problem ...
Holmes said the United Nations would immediately release at least $10 million from its emergency relief fund for Myanmar and would launch a global appeal on Friday to raise more based on an initial U.N. damage assessment.

He said the amount of aid available for Myanmar was obviously not enough at the moment but it was clear that countries were ready to be very generous.

Although four Asian U.N. aid workers who do not need visas to get into the country were going in on Thursday but Holmes said other U.N. aid workers still were waiting to get visas. "It's not been as good as we would have liked," he said about cooperation with Myanmar's junta. "It's not been as good as it is in other circumstances in other countries but we are getting cooperation."

Holmes warned the junta that "any delays are potentially critical."
The junta pretty much has made it clear it doesn't care enough to let you help them.
The U.N. World Food Program said in statement that it has sent four aircraft loaded with food aid and other relief items to Myanmar. They are expected to arrive on Thursday.
Posted by:Fred

#24  My forehead aches.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-05-08 21:37  

#23  ysf? you're so?

you st-pid f-ck
Posted by: Pappy   2008-05-08 21:33  

#22  the Chicoms need to step up to the plate for their client state.

In what way? I suspect neither the Chicoms nor the Burmese generals really care if even a full million perish as long as they can maintain power.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-05-08 21:31  

#21  Alaska Paul I vaguely remember reading a Cold War story about sacks of US-aid rice to some Asian country (henceforth X) being stamped by a local official with a stamp which said a gift to the People of X from Chinese People.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-05-08 20:59  

#20  I don't mean to be insensitive, but the Chicoms need to step up to the plate for their client state. And what guarantee do we have that the aid will go to those in need?
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-05-08 19:58  

#19  ysf? you're so?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-05-08 19:43  

#18   Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!

You must have heard. That was the Chinee name for it. BTW have you got the route in for the tanks to defend NOLA? I only ask because it's a rather tricky situation in that area. I will provide le boniFides on request. My plan for fighting with thousands of miniature Abrhams hull down along the leveeeeeeeeeeeees must have leaked. Still, send word, we're all cool here.

Also for a small fee, I can get you a fine framed certificate of Sanity. 10 ounces of Gold or $400 In U.S. Fiat money.

Now come along here... I want to show you something.... it's the edge, take a peek.
Posted by: George Smiley   2008-05-08 19:38  

#17  Know two things about Katrina and New Orleans that you never hear in the MSM:
1) Despite the shortcomings, the evacuation of New Orleans ahead of the storm was probably the biggest and most successful in US history (and most of those who stayed behind chose to do so),
2) Despite the ~1000 deaths, it was probably the biggest and most successful rescue mission in US history - and the US military played a huge part.
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-05-08 19:14  

#16  can be requested by the state governor

I remember the president calling up Louisiana's governor to inform her that federal aid was ready to go as soon as she requested it. She chose not to.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-05-08 16:19  

#15  Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!

That's because national defense is a Federal responsibility - it's defined in the Constitution.

Disaster response is defined under other laws and procedures. Essentially, disaster response falls under local, and then state (if the local government cannot handle it), purview. When those cannot deal with it, then federal response can be requested by the state governor. Maybe you missed that in my last comment.

Again, I can point you to the applicable laws and instructions.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-05-08 15:15  

#14  food bombing - maybe

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080508/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_myanmar
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-08 14:42  

#13  its NOT about making a good impression with the junta. Its about making impression with the PEOPLE, in Burma, and the rest of the world.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-08 14:42  

#12  liberalhawk, if you want to make a good impression with the Junta, you can always 'gift wrap' your stimulus check and Direct Wire through Western Union. I'm keeping mine.
Posted by: smn   2008-05-08 12:44  

#11  "I doubt the Myanmar Junta would have sent their love and offer of assistance to the good people of Greensburg!"

Probably not. Our democratic allies DID provide help though. This isnt about reaching out the regime - its about putting the regime on the spot.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-08 12:36  

#10  big jim -

we wont hand cash to the rules, we will go hand out rice, tents, etc to folks in the hardest hit areas. Right now people are dying, cause the Burmse tyranny wont let help in. We greatly improved attitudes to the US in Indonesia after the tsunami. This is a great opportunity to let the world know, once again, what the US is about, and also to remind everyone of the consequences of the Chinese proclivity to protect the worst dictatorships. Oh, and we get to save lives while we're at it.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-08 12:34  

#9  What I am saying swksvolFF, is that even though there is no hope or helping the dead; I doubt the Myanmar Junta would have sent their love and offer of assistance to the good people of Greensburg! Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!
Posted by: smn   2008-05-08 12:26  

#8  As I recall, The Bush admin did ask the Governor to allow him to act and pre-position emergency supplies and such before the storm hit and was blown-off.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-05-08 10:31  

#7  Had he felt that way about the New Orleanders immediately after Katrina, maybe most of the misery and displacement could have been minimized!

Minor quibble: Feelings get trumped by long-standing law. Federal government is limited in how it can respond (I can point you to the instructions/laws).

Essentially, assistance can't happen until the governor of Lousianna had requested it, and not until it was proven to be beyond local, then state, disaster response abilities.

IIRC, that long-standing process seemed to break down somewhere along the way to Baton Rouge (the rest of the Gulf states seemed somehow to manage it). If I was a cynic, I'd even say it was played for political gain.

ysf, indeed.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-05-08 09:50  

#6  When did Captain Obvious start working for the UN?
Posted by: mojo   2008-05-08 09:03  

#5  Color me skeptical, but if we hand the Myanmar Junta all these millions of dollars, what are they going to spend it on?
Probably not the relief of their people, probably more like on Rolexes and BMWs. These guys are the most oppressive (arguably) regime in the world, they don't give a rat's ass about their citizens. Since they won't let any NGO's into the county and we have said we are coughing up a big wad of money for them, I jump to the conclusion that we are going to hand it directly to the Generals.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-05-08 07:47  

#4  Well, did you really think you can kill all these monks, and their boss won't take offense?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-05-08 06:08  

#3  Yeah, if only the US Navy would have been in Greensburg, tens of thousend would not have died.

ysf.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-05-08 05:50  

#2  Sorry Mississippi, didn't mean to leave ya'll misery out either! I have family in Waveland!!
Posted by: smn   2008-05-08 05:08  

#1  What a crock!!! "W" wants to fervently persuade the Myanmar Junta to please reconsider??????? Turn those ships around...RECALL the fleet!! Had he felt that way about the New Orleanders immediately after Katrina, maybe most of the misery and displacement could have been minimized! Send those bags of rice, wheat, flour and help to the people of the US (in addition to the stimulus) no matter where they are! F*** the world, the US first, and maybe if there are left overs!
Posted by: smn   2008-05-08 04:43  

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