Wednesday, 14 May 2008
U.S. Aid Begins to Enter a Devastated Myanmar
May 14, 2008 - After the Myanmar military refused foreign aid for the past week, U.S. aid has finally begun to filter into country following the destructive cyclone of May Second.Today, the government authorized five additional shipments of supplies to be brought into the country.
"It appears they're allowing limited numbers but increasing numbers," U.S. Admiral Timothy Keating said. "So we're very, very guardedly optimistic we will see approval for more flights."
According to CNN, between 68,000 and 128,000 are believed to have died due to the effects of Cyclone Nargia.The official Myanmar government earlier stated that only 22,000 had been killed in the cyclone. Last week, Myanmar prime minister Lieutentant General Thein Sein told Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej that they did not need support.
“They have their own team to cope with the situation," said Thai prime minister SamakSundravej.
The United Nations stated that Myanmar has a responsibilty to care for its citizens in this time of crisis."We are here to do what we can and facilitate their efforts and scale up their response. It is clearly inadequate, and we do not want to see a second wave of deaths as a result of that not being scaled up," said Amanda Pitt, of the U.N. office for Humanitarian Affairs.
The U.S. Marine Corps says that future United States shipments will provide water, hygeine kits and food to Myanmar citizens. Meanwhile, citizens also find relief in knowing that no more cyclones are expected to hit the area in in the nearby future.
For more information, visit: Links to Myanmar Government info, Official Myanmar website and United Nations
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
At Least 90 Killed in Sri Lankan Conflict, Diverging Reports Surface
April 23, 2008 - At least 90 were killed in northern Sri Lanka today from heavy fighting between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The fighting broke out in the Jaffa peninsula, where the LTTE had established its own independent de-facto state.
“LTTE terrorists came and attacked our forward line this morning," said Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman. "We have retaliated and captured about 400 to 500 metres of LTTE area in Muhamalai.”
The military said fighter jets then bombed several rebel positions, and helicopter gunships assisted in ground attacks against rebel forces. Both parties conflict in terms of fighting circumstances and casualties.
“Forty-three soldiers made their supreme sacrifice while another 120 soldiers suffered injuries," said an unnamed defence ministry spokesman. "Over 100 LTTE cadres have been killed and a large number had suffered injuries."
The LTTE has dismissed the military’s turn of events. They say they successfully warded off a government assault today, leaving 100 military troops and only 16 rebels dead.
“They attempted to get near our positions," said Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan, a spokesman for the LTTE. "That’s when the clashes erupted.”
Analysts say the Sri Lanka military and LTTE both slant casualty reports to amplify enemy losses over their own. After more than 25 years of fighting, a clear victor has yet to emerge.
For more information:
bravenet.com