USDA joins cyclone efforts to boost image

The USDA members were dispatched on 10 June in six teams, each supported by government IT technicians, and have been supplied with first aid kits, tools, cooking utensils, drinking water and toilet construction materials.

The article did not specify whether these items were donated by the USDA or provided by private or foreign donors.

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Junta lays out guidelines for relief workers

Relief organisations were summoned to the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development on Tuesday for a briefing by NPED minister U Soe Tha, who outlined the ten regulations.

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Pyapon: One month after the cyclone

One month after Cyclone Nargis, survivors in many villages of Pyapon Township have yet to receive adequate aid and assistance for reconstruction of their homes and livelihoods from either local authorities or international agencies.

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'Turn Around and Go Back to Yangon'

"No, no, no," says the military guard. He is sitting next to a roadblock with five other soldiers at his side. "You cannot go there. Foreigners cannot go there."

He looks at me, shakes his head and gestures at the road on the other side of the barricade. "You must have permission to go. Turn around and go back to Yangon."

Myanmar, also known as Burma, was hammered by Cylone Nargis some five weeks ago. The reclusive junta that governs this impoverished nation has been criticized by the international community for not doing more to help its own people recover.

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Burma has received only 56% of funds: UN

"Funding is clearly not coming in at the rate we would hope," said Amanda Pitt, a spokeswoman for the UN relief operations. "Funding is urgently needed to sustain the pipeline for food and assistance."

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Myanmar: Keep doors open for aid - Thakin Thein Pe

Freedom fighters and veteran politicians urged the Burmese junta today to allow aid workers and disaster management experts into the country to get adequate aid for cyclone victims.

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"It is being heard that cyclone aid is not adequate despite the government's utmost efforts. The government should work for effective and adequate relief efforts for these hapless victims and should not forcibly close the door," Thakin Thein Pe said at his birthday party held at his residence in Rangoon today.

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As donors disappear, cyclone survivors fend for themselves

As private donors disappear from cyclone-affected areas of the Irrawaddy delta, residents of Bogalay, one of the hardest-hit towns in the disaster zone, say that they are struggling to rebuild their homes by themselves.

Many residents said that they were using old materials to repair or rebuild their homes, despite an abundant supply of new materials available in local shops and at the homes of businessmen and members of the Township Peace and Development Council.

‘When I went to buy corrugated zinc sheets to cover my roof, they [township authorities] sold it to me for 780 kyat (US $0.68) per foot,’ said Wa Yint, a local resident.

‘I have to rebuild my house using old zinc sheets. But for parts of my house that were badly damaged, I needed some new sheets,’ he added.

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