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UN Chief Calls Donors Meeting a Turning Point in Burma Cyclone Relief

By Ron Corben
Bangkok, Thailand
25 May 2008

The United Nations secretary general says an international donors' conference in Burma marks a 'turning point' in stepping up relief efforts for those affected by the cyclone that devastated parts of the country. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, relief organizations are hopeful humanitarian and relief assistance will increase to assist the more than two million people still in need.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told an international donor's conference in Burma Sunday there was hope aid to areas hardest hit by cyclone Nagis areas would increase "significantly" in the days ahead.

Mr. Ban said the gathering in Rangoon marked a "turning point" in relief efforts in Burma from cyclone Nargis. But he also called for more support for a U.N. emergency appeal that had so far received 20 per cent of the $201 million sought, although a further 20 per cent has been pledged.

Delegates from 50 countries and regional bodies attended the one day conference in the commercial capital of Rangoon three weeks after the cyclone cut a path of destruction especially hitting the Irrawaddy Delta region.

Currently the death toll stands at 78,000 with 56,000 still missing, with the U.N. estimating that over two million people still require emergency assistance. Burma's military says the cost from the cyclone is around $11 billion.

Aid organizations welcomed the breakthroughs that led to the conference after intense international pressure was applied on Burma to ease restrictions on international aid and relief. U.N. Children's Fund spokeswoman for East Asia, Shantha Bloemen, says the conference offered hope relief efforts would be increased.

"All the indications are positive and obviously welcomed. We definitely need to get more aid and relief in as quickly as possible to the country and especially to those affected in remote areas. All of this is a positive indication and we're hoping that this means that in the next few days both more technical experts and humanitarian relief workers can get into the country and down to the affected areas," Bloemen said.

Mr. Ban last week held talks with the leader, general, Than Shwe, who agreed to open the country to greater international assistance. At Sunday's conference, Prime Minister General Thien Sein, wearing a traditional Burmese 'longyi' and jacket, said there would be no strings attached to international aid.

On Saturday, Mr. Ban oversaw the opening of new warehousing facilitaties in Bangkok for relief goods and materials.

Several countries including the United States, which has already provided more than $20 million in assistance, saying more assistance will be provided if international experts have access to areas receiving relief.

ASEAN secretary general, Surin Pitsuwan, who attended the conference, had pointed to 'discrepancies' between the government's assessments and those by international community. He said these differences undermined donor trust. The UN and ASEAN, under a 'coalition of the mercy', had sought full agreement from Burma's military to implement the pact.

Human rights groups also cautioned the international community to closely monitor the relief and donor programmes.

Debbie Stothardt, spokeswoman for the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma said donors should insist on the agreement's full implementation to ensure relief efforts went ahead.

"And for the donor's to tell the regeim - 'this is what has to happen, and you have to agree to it if you want aid to come in otherwise we're all at risk, you will be at risk of worsening the situation, where a small select group that is favoured by the military regime benefits hugely, enormously,'" Stothardt said.

Agencies say stepped up relief efforts are still urgently needed. International agencies are warning of food shortages in the medium term unless Burma's rice producing Irrawaddy Delta is quickly rehabilitated for the next planting season due within the next two months.