One Back

Cyclone Nargis has ravaged the nation of Myanmar, and international relief is slow getting into the nation.  Some reports have forecasted that up to 100,000 people may have perished and aid agencies are struggling to respond.  I’m not a fan of countries with dictatorships in terms of their politics or the effect that their leaders have on the people of those that live there. Most of the time the people remain oppressed and poor, and are not able to work out of poverty, subsisting only on the fortunes of the country where they live.

In the case of the people of Myanmar, or Burma as it was formerly known, it is unspeakably tragic that thousands of people lost their lives as a result of the recent cyclone.  Certainly the cyclone was a natural disaster and not the fault directly of the military junta that serves as their government, and yet if you have traveled to many nations within the region you would find that hundreds of thousands of people live in squalor along the coasts, and for miles inland. 

Because of how they live, and where they live, people living in this region are subject to the ravages of nature such as cyclones, floods and even earthquakes and tsunamis.  If the government of Myanmar were more inclined to help the people and the nation grow with the developing world, perhaps they might be better prepared in the face of such storms and natural disasters.  Yet even if warned beforehand, thousands of these people have nowhere else to go.

In the case of Myanmar, some have questioned if their government adequately warned the people of the threat.  More likely they simply didn’t understand it.  It’s difficult even to conceive of such numbers in terms of human loss however.  But now the relief effort is underway, and hopefully the leaders of that nation will open their borders and work with other nations to help the survivors.

The United Nations has pledged over $30 million dollars, and the U.S. is weighing a great deal of assistance if Myanmar will accept it. The U.S. is also currently awaiting permission to help with navy ships and personnel as they have done so often in the past for other nations.  But getting Myanmar to accept the help may be difficult.

“The U.S., which has offered at least $3.25 million, assistance, is still trying to persuade the ruling junta to allow humanitarian aid into the country, Villarosa said in the conference call.”

“We’re dealing with a very paranoid regime,” she said.

“Myanmar’s military rulers are “suspicious of outsiders and very sensitive to foreign influences,” Maureen Aung-Thwin, director of the Burma Project, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television today. “They admitted to 22,000” people killed, she said. “I believe the figure is higher than that. Somebody said 150,000 and I don’t think that’s untrue.”

For now all we can do is send our thoughts, prayers and donations to help the people of Myanmar.  International agencies are having a difficult time with the situation.    But the International and American Red Cross organizations are providing assistance, planning and financial help.  Many other relief agencies are scrambling to get organized and provide assistance also.

Click here for the Red Cross Donation Link

“The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has also released an initial $189,000 and shipped shelter kits, made up of tarps, ropes and hammers, to support the relief effort in Myanmar. Additionally, the American Red Cross is prepared to respond with financial aid, estimated at $100,000, to aid cyclone survivors.”

“The American Red Cross and International Federation also have emergency supplies – such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets – pre-stocked in warehouses in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, if requested.”

“The American Red Cross is in close contact with its colleagues at the Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation. We continue to monitor the situation, assess the needs of survivors and stand prepared to offer additional assistance as future needs are identified.”

But relief workers are challenged to get help to those who need it as Myanmar Blocks Aid Workers.  This may even be inadvertent; when a country is so backward and not accustomed to collaboration and working with other nations, they are unprepared for the scale of the effort necessary to help their own people. 

I’m a strong believer in the strength of free nations and markets, democracy and open borders for I believe it fosters economic growth and prosperity for all people.  Nations who show the way to others in terms of freedom and liberty offer people hope, and a chance to work out of poverty.  No nation or people are immune to the suffering and hardship that exists around the world, but on balance, I believe those nations that help people and businesses grow are better off.  The nation itself is then better off and more prepared to deal with the challenges that life may bring. 

Perhaps in some way while the international community helps Myanmar with relief and assistance for their people, the leadership will begin to move toward a more open nation and future.

Filed under: People and Stories, Promoting Change