Myanmar Dragging Feet On Aid
The government of Myanmar is still holding off on allowing large amounts of aid into the Yangon, even as the death toll is projected to be somewhere north of 100,000 (source). In particular, the government has yet to allow US assets into the country. Given that the United States has the greatest amount of resources needed for this kind of relief operation - for example, cargo planes (the gov is not allowing US transport planes to fly into the country) and our naval assets in the region, including the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship with 1800 Marines, 23 transport helicopters and various landing craft - keeping us out is literally killing thousands of people. While a trickle of aid is getting in, it is no where near the amount needed to help the stricken population begin to recover.
Why is th government doing this? Well, first, the government is more concerned with loosing power than the effects of this disaster on its population. They probably think that if US/Western aid workers get into the country, the will try to overthrow the government; at the very least, they do not want the world to know just how things are in Myanmar Second, the population of Yangon has been restive for some time If they are dying - or at least focusing on the struggle to survive - they are not a threat to the government. Third, the government is probably making money off of the vast increase in prices for necessities, something that a flood of aid will put an end to.
In the UN, China, Russia, South Africa and Vietnam blocked a move by France to invoke a newly established doctrine known as "responsibility to protect" in order to deliver aid directly to people without going through the government. They, of course, do not want to set a precedent of the UN going into a country to help with a humanitarian crisis over the objections of the government since they may one day be in that position.
So, what to do? Unfortunately, there is not much we can do. If the government refuses to cooperate, the people of Myanmar are the ones who will continue to suffer.
Why is th government doing this? Well, first, the government is more concerned with loosing power than the effects of this disaster on its population. They probably think that if US/Western aid workers get into the country, the will try to overthrow the government; at the very least, they do not want the world to know just how things are in Myanmar Second, the population of Yangon has been restive for some time If they are dying - or at least focusing on the struggle to survive - they are not a threat to the government. Third, the government is probably making money off of the vast increase in prices for necessities, something that a flood of aid will put an end to.
In the UN, China, Russia, South Africa and Vietnam blocked a move by France to invoke a newly established doctrine known as "responsibility to protect" in order to deliver aid directly to people without going through the government. They, of course, do not want to set a precedent of the UN going into a country to help with a humanitarian crisis over the objections of the government since they may one day be in that position.
So, what to do? Unfortunately, there is not much we can do. If the government refuses to cooperate, the people of Myanmar are the ones who will continue to suffer.
Labels: myanmar, natural disaster
posted by Jeff at 5/08/2008 07:50:00 AM
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