« It's As If Cruel Fate | Main | Sorry »

May 16, 2008

The Burmese Horror Keeps Growing

Now it's reached 78,000

The official death toll for Burma's cyclone disaster has jumped to almost 78,000 people, with nearly 56,000 missing, according to state TV.

Previously, Burma was giving a toll of 43,000 dead and 28,000 missing while the Red Cross and United Nations had estimated a death toll above 100,000.

Aid agencies are frustrated at the slow progress of aid to areas worst hit.

Cyclone Nargis battered southern regions of Burma, including the Irrawaddy Delta, on 2-3 May.

A BBC reporter in the delta this week saw little sign of official help and foreign aid workers have been barred from the area.

Foreign aid workers barred. Jesus H. Christ. I can understand Chinese reluctance, as they have millions of troops able to help out with their earthquake relief, but these bastards in Burma? Oh wait, they say everything is honky-dory now

Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein has announced that the "first phase of emergency relief" is over and that the focus is now on reconstruction.

Nothing to see here folks, move along.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at May 16, 2008 11:42 AM

Comments

The asswipe junta actually held elections within a week of it first hitting. I say those creeps need to be taken out, forcibly.

Posted by: Erica at May 16, 2008 11:57 AM

Hey, they got 92% of the vote!

My people love me! Pull!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 16, 2008 12:24 PM

Hey, they got 92% of the vote!
And all the high energy biscuits! Rock ON, junta dudes!!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at May 16, 2008 12:36 PM

Works for me, Erica, But this time, how about one of those non-unilateral, people luvvin', democratic countries, eh? Like, oh, say, France?

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at May 16, 2008 05:20 PM

Dude, Burma is even worse in comparison to China than you think. China accepted aid in the form of rescue teams - from Taiwan.

Posted by: John at May 17, 2008 11:49 PM