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Aid not reaching cyclone victims: U.N.

YANGON: The U.N. on Tuesday said only a tiny portion of international relief is reaching Myanmar’s cyclone victims, amid fears that the military regime is hoarding high-quality foreign aid for itself while people make do with rotten food.

“There is obviously still a lot of frustration that this aid effort hasn’t picked up pace 10 days after the cyclone hit,” said Richard Horsey, spokesman for the U.N. humanitarian operation in Bangkok. Cyclone Nargis devastated the Irrawaddy delta, leaving about 62,000 persons dead or missing according to the government count. The U.N. had said the death toll was likely to be more than 1,00,000.

With their homes washed away and large tracts of land under water, 2 million survivors — mostly rice farmers — are living in abject misery, facing disease and starvation. The World Food Program is getting in 20 per cent of the food because of bottlenecks, logistics problems and government-imposed restrictions, the U.N. said.

The survivors were packed into Buddhist monasteries or were camping in the open, drinking contaminated water, with bodies and carcasses floating around. Food and medicine are scarce.

The military has taken control of most aid sent by donors.

The regime told a U.S. military commander, who delivered the first American shipment on Monday, that storm victims’ basic needs are being fulfilled and that “skilful humanitarian workers are not necessary.” — AP

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