'It's difficult in there. It's like walking a tightrope'

Tim Costello describes the guilt he felt coming home,
and the devastation he left behind in Burma.
Photo: Melanie Faith Dove

TIM Costello has dealt with devastation before. Too many times, he has stood among the ruins of people's homes and lives, among scores of bodies rotting in the streets.

But in Burma, while human suffering in the wake of cyclone Nargis was all around, it was a sense of frustration at being unable to help, at being hampered at every turn in trying to bring in aid, that overwhelmed the World Vision Australia chief.

In his first in-depth interview since returning to Melbourne on Saturday, Mr Costello broke down yesterday as he detailed the infuriating hurdles he faced in a country that seemed more focused on its elections than saving its people's lives.

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Cowra aid for Burma

Cowra Rotarians are rallying behind a project actually able to enter and deliver aid to the devastated country of Myanmar.

Recent Cyclone Nargis that affected the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar (Burma) has left unbelievable destruction in the country and over one million people without housing.

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News Update -May(17)

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U.N. envoy to plead with Burma over aid

RANGOON, Burma (AP) — A top U.N envoy headed for Burma, also known as Myanmar, on Sunday to plead with the junta to accept more international aid for its cyclone survivors, amid mounting fears of starvation deaths, especially among children.

John Holmes, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, was scheduled to arrive late Sunday and hoped to meet with junta leaders, said Amanda Pitt, a United Nations spokeswoman in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Burma - Cyclone Nargis

Slowly, much too slowly, it seems to be dawning on the Burmese junta that they must accept outside help to mount an effective relief effort and to save the lives of many thousands of people. We are not going to see an international relief effort on the scale of that following the Asian tsunami but maybe things are starting to move in the right direction. A breakthrough is seen as near says a report today from Reuters.

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Cyclone island of death

May 17 - More than half the population and all but three houses destroyed by cyclone on Burmese island village.

The Burmese island of Higyi, has lost at least 1,600 of its 3,000 inhabitants killed to Cyclone Nargis, according to local rescuers. The national toll of dead and missing has soared above 133,000 people, making it one of the most devastating ever to hit Asia.

PM condemns Myanmar's cyclone response

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned Myanmar for not allowing the international community to supply aid to its cyclone victims and said the junta must be held accountable for this "inhuman" response.

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