Myanmar: aid okay; still no to Western aid workers

The international aid agencies finally have a route to get vast amounts of relief supplies into Myanmar. It has been agreed that neighbouring south east-Asian countries will coordinate the aid operation for the United Nations. Conditions are still dire in the south of Myanmar where more than 130,000 people are thought to have died.

Myanmar’s leaders have taken a leaf out of China’s book. Military General Than Shwe has toured the disaster area and declared the next three days to be a period of national mourning.

He has also agreed to let the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon visit Myanmar to see what is going on for himself.

Next Sunday there will be a donor conference in Myanmar’s former capital Yangon. But Western aid workers will not be given unfettered access to the country.

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