Mynamar's reaction to the cyclone is "appalling"

The Committee on Foreign Affairs met today to discuss Myanmar in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary of state, criticized the Myanmar government’s handling of the disaster, saying it was “appalling.”

On May 2 a tropical cyclone hit Myanmar, which destroyed more than 95 percent of structures in some communities in the Irrawaddy Delta. The storm left 2.4 million in urgent need of assistance. The United Nations estimates cyclone-related deaths are between 78,000 and 125,000. The United States has offered assistance and the international community has responded and offered over $100 million in assistance to Myanmar. However as Marciel said, “the Myanmar regime’s response to this disaster has fallen far short of what was required. Frankly, it has been appalling.”

The Myanmar government put the priority on conducting a “deeply flawed referendum” on its draft constitution and has give very few international aid organizations visas into the country.

“The fact that the regime proceeded with the referendum in the midst of a humanitarian disaster speaks volumes to its indifference to the welfare of the Burmese people,” Marciel said.

The United States has engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts over the past two weeks in order to offer humanitarian assistance to those affected by the cyclone. As of May 19, reports indicate that supplies are going out slowly to the affected areas and only 20 percent of the 2.4 million people have received any aid. Only a quarter of the 2.4 million people had received food aid through the World Food Program and the World Health Organization has reported that an outbreak of malaria and dengue fever could occur within weeks if the people don’t get adequate aid soon.

UN aid to Myanmar by the numbers

UN Aid to Myanmar by the numbers
* There are 30-40 aid flights a day plus commercial flights being donated by companies such as Thai airlines.
* 700 tons of rice and high energy biscuits are enough to feed 100,000 people
* The UN goal is to have tarps for 200,000 households
*There are about 160 relief workers being allowed in from neighboring countries.
*The UN has applied for about 100-200 visas for professional staff, with the ability to train and work with workers.
*$150 million has been raised but now the amount needed has increased.
*1.6-2.5 million people will need some form of aid over the long term, the numbers on this are constantly being refined.
*Death toll is 38,000. and 27,000 missing. Those are the statistics of Myanmar not of the United Nations. It could be up to 100,000 or even higher but there is no reliable figures. There is the possibility that people have been double counted.

Myanmar/Burma briefing by John Holmes Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator

In his update briefing on the conditions and aid flights to Myanmar, Holmes said that so far the Burmese government is not allowing international workers but they have asked neighboring countries to help. Holmes said that there is still a long way to go. He said that clean water is still very important, but that in the medical supplies dehydration kits has helped to stave off a real crisis.

Holmes said that there is no detectable moving of aid for other purposes which the UN has determined by looking at markets, but Holmes said, that doesn't mean it is not happening. He reported that the Ports are now open so large quantities of goods should be able to move soon. Myanmar is still not accepting assets such as engineering teams or helicopters said Holmes. He said that Myanmar’s national resources are not adequate. The plan, Holmes said, is to develop a logistics hub, perhaps in Thailand.

Holmes also said that the issue of relief workers and outside assets is a discussion that the United Nations is trying to move forward with the Myanmar government. The government has stepped up road blocks looking for foreigners. Currently international staff is being turned away at road blocks, which gets in the way of distributing aid in a professional way. “You can't just hand out things at the back of a truck,” said Holmes
He mentioned that the World Bank might be able to play a long term roll in terms of developing infrastructure after recovery from the crisis. That is why the United Nations is relying on local staff, but Holmes said, many of the local United Nations staff is not trained in emergency relief. Air drops that have been made against the wishes of the government are proving a complicated issue.


Within a week to ten days after a disaster is when disease begins to spread, said Holmes. Disease can break out at any time if aid can not get through. The Secretary General has sent a second letter, they have not been able to contact by telephone.
Holmes told the briefing that the Thai Prime Minister is going to be in Myanmar, and hoping to make some headway with a regime 'that seems allergic to the telephone".
In response to a question Holmes said that the UN has not heard stories of aid being denied because of the referendum, but it does not seem to be possible for them to hold a referendum give the circumstances.

On the bombings in India:
The statement given at the briefing was that the Secretary General is outraged by the bombings and terrorism.

On the Security Council:

The Council is concerned about JEM fighters near Khartoum over last weekend as well as increased violence in Darfur. Ethiopia and Eritrea will also be on the agenda this afternoon.

Pentagon: If Congress doesn't act, soldiers will go unpaid

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell briefed the press, starting with a statement about the Global War on Terror budget supplemental request, which is slated to go before the House this week. He said that currently the military is borrowing form Army payroll accounts in order to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that if the Congress does not act the the Defense Department will not be able to pay soldier, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan after June 15, 2008. He said the only options available if Congress does not pass $108 billion in war supplementals would be for the Defense Department to petition Congress to allow certain "re-programming" of other funds so that soldiers don't' go without pay.


The subject of Myanmar came up and Morrell said that there are several U.S. military assets in the region, which if requested could aid in disaster relief. These assets include 23 helicopters and a carrier with 1800 Marines aboard. Morrell said that these forces are only awaiting the request for help from the Burmese government.

The subject of the revised GI bill came up. Morrell wouldn't comment on any of the draft legislation in the Senate, but said that the Defense Department's priorities are to make education benefits transferable to military spouses and children and to have those education benefits become available after 6 years of service, which Morrell said would encourage a higher rate of retention in the force.

Morrell said that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the command structure in Afghanistan is something that is worth taking a look at, but only in consultation with the NATO allies. He also said that while gen. McNeil has requested 3 additional brigades, the general doesn't expect that request to be fulfilled anytime soon. There is an expectation based on assurances made by President bush at the NATO summit in Bucharest, Hungary that there will be a plussing up of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But Morrell said that the military will have to evaluate that plussing up of forces after the period of evaluation in Iraq after the last surge force brigade combat team is withdrawn. He also said that the Department must strive to meet the renewed limit of 12-month tours and increased time at home for soldiers first. He said that the Secretary of Defense doesn't think more troops in Afghanistan is unnecessary but that the draw down in Iraq must be completed before those additional brigades to Afghanistan will be considered. He also reiterated that the tour of the 3,400 Marines now serving in the Regional Command South will end in a finite way in December and the Department does not expect that tour to be extended beyond the standard 7 months for Marines.

Morell said that he has heard that there will be confirmation hearings on the Hill confirming Gen. David Petraeus as the combatant commander of Central Command later in the month of May. The Senate Armed Services Committee could not confirm that a date has been set for these hearings.