Font Size 
Cyclone-hit Myanmar restricts international aid
Published on Fri, May 16, 2008 at 11:59, Updated at Fri, May 16, 2008 in World » Neighbours section
Tags: Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar , Yangon
HELP NEEDED: A boat-ride through Irrawaddy River Delta reveals the despair of those affected.
Other stories in the section:
Indian team of armed medical personnel land in Yangon
The team is expected to be deployed in the cyclone hit Irrawaddy delta.
Yangon: In cyclone-hit Myanmar, survivors are still without food for days now but the military junta has closed its borders to aid workers.
A boat-ride through the cyclone-ravaged area of the Irrawaddy River Delta reveals the despair of those affected.
A man suddenly appears on the shore - and frantically swims to the vessel.
He says he's been walking for four days and his village was destroyed by the storm adding that and seven of his family members have been killed.
The man also says at one point he signaled a Myanmar Navy boat for help.
"A navy boat passed," He says. "I waved, but it didn't stop, it didn't come near the shore."
Now his ordeal is over.
But while he enjoys his first decent meal in days, others in the worst affected area wonder when they will get their next meal.
CNN found Wen Wen Chi in a monastery, which is giving refuge to about 300 families.
"If new food does not arrive soon, i'm afraid we will starve here," Wen says.
Wen Wen Chi is sick. She has a fever. She was given two painkiller tablets. She says that's all the medicine she's been able to get at the camp.
And she's not the only one suffering.
A woman says she has a respiratory illness and a three-month-old baby to take care of and there is too little food, too little water and almost no medical supplies.
The abbot here at the monastery camp says he's doing the best he can to help the displaced. He can hardly conceal his anger at Myanmar's military rulers who have restricted international aid.
"I am very sorry that we have received no help from the authorities," he says.
"Only some private people are giving us donations."
And donations are urgently needed for people like Wen Wen Chi and her family. Right now, she says, it is about survival - one day at a time.
More Headlines from Neighbours
| Related links: | |
Total Comments: 0
Read Comment | Post Comment
Be the first to comment.