Posts Tagged ‘Relief’
CORRECTED: U.S. to provide $5 mln more for Myanmar relief aid
(Corrects to Agency for International Development in paragraph 3)
By Jeremy Pelofsky
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some U.S. aid is getting to the people of Myanmar and Washington plans to provide $5 million more in disaster relief in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis that devastated the country in May, U.S. first lady Laura Bush said Wednesday.
The United States sent about $75 million in relief and the reclusive military junta in Myanmar allowed at least 100 U.S. flights after the storm slammed the Irrawaddy delta, killing more than 130,000 and leaving more than 2 million destitute.
Bush, speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York to mark the 60th anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights, said the U.S. Agency for International Development would send $5 million more in aid.
“This assistance will support the efforts of nongovernmental organizations like the World Food Program and Save the Children to ensure access to clean water, adequate shelter, basic health services, and other essential needs in the most affected areas,” she said.
She noted that a reporter from the BBC went to the delta recently and made an interesting discovery.
“We saw photographs of the shacks that the people who lived in the delta are building — rebuilding to rebuild their homes, and they were built out of the rice sacks that were stacked with USAID and American flags,” she said.
“So we do know that some of this relief we’re sending into the cyclone area is getting to the people,” Bush said.
Just a few weeks before she and her husband, President George W. Bush, leave the White House, Bush pledged she would keep pushing for democratic reforms in Myanmar, previously known as Burma, after leaving Washington.
“I’m going to pay, really, a lot of attention to these two issues, the international issues that I’ve worked on the most, both Afghanistan and Burma,” she said.
Myanmar’s military junta has refused to accept losing a 1990 election and has cracked down numerous times on pro-democracy demonstrators, killing thousands.
(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Peter Cooney)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4BA07Q20081211
World focus on Burma (20 September 2008)
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Detained Rangoon-based journalist transferred to Insein prison
Mizzima.com, India –
Rangoon – Journalists seem to have become as big a threat to the Burmese military junta as dissident political activists. …
Saffron Revolution: bloodstained line between good and evil
Mizzima.com, India –
These are difficult days for all Burmese democracy advocates inside Burma. Prominent political leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi continue to suffer neglect …
Religious freedom continues to decline in Asia
AsiaNews.it, Italy –
In September of 2007, tens of thousands of Burmese Buddhist monks protested the military dictatorship, which responded with killings, torture, …
Myanmar action over tainted milk
The Press Association –
Myanmar health authorities will take “relevant actions” against milk powder imported from China, a privately run newspaper said on Saturday. …
Ten National Security Myths
Middle East Online, UK –
Second, a League of Democracies would be no more effective than other organizations in solving humanitarian problems like those in Burma and Darfur or in …
Graphic novels with drive
The Gazette (Montreal), Canada –
The author’s follow-up, Shenzhen, employed a similar strategy, and now Delisle returns with Burma Chronicles. This time the everyman is a househusband, …
Calling upon Comprehensive Packages for Survivors of Trafficking
The Seoul Times, South Korea –
The primary objective of the dialogue was to deliberate upon the need for a cohesive approach to combat human trafficking and also address the larger issues …
Reading Burma: A Benefit for Cyclone Relief and Freedom of …
Village Voice, NY –
Commemorating the first anniversary of the monks’ uprising in which thousands of Buddhist monks protested against Burma’s military dictatorship and the 20th …
Remarks on Release of 2008 International Religious Freedom Report
US Department of State, DC –
In September 2007, the Burmese military regime violently suppressed peaceful prodemocracy demonstrations led by courageous Buddhist monks and ordinary …
In Burma after the cyclone
Point Reyes Light, CA –
Harrison recently returned to Nicasio from Burma and the Irrawaddy delta, where he witnessed first hand the effects of Cyclone Nargis. …
Birmania. Siti dell’esilio sotto attacco
Fragmenta, Italy –
Many in the Burmese community—both inside and outside Burma—believe that the military authorities are behind the cyber attack. Our Web hosting companies …
Thai party rallies behind Somchai
Haber 27, Turkey –
… he failed to appear at the start of a trial investigating soft government loans to the military regime in neighbouring Burma while he was in office. …
US Religious Freedom Report Faults North Korea, Eritrea, Iran
Voice of America –
Those countries are Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan – the same grouping as last year. …
Burmese Junta Attacks Websites
Web Host Industry Review –
By David Hamilton, theWHIR.com September 19, 2008 — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — The ruling Burmese junta has launched a series of online attacks against …
World focus on Burma (5 September 2008)
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Hereford Times, UK –
By May 9, Shelter Box had successfully delivered £300000-worth of survival kit to Myamar (Burma) to help victims of Cyclone Nargis and visas for aid workers …
Troops extort money from passengers at check points
Independent Mon News Agency, WA –
Burmese troops manning gates along Mon to Karen State southern Burma (Myanmar) have been extorting money from passengers in vehicles and strictly checking …
Burmese jail over 700 monks
Religious Intelligence Ltd, UK –
The dam project is a joint venture between a Chinese company and a military controlled Burmese concern, Myanmar-Asia World Company. Kachin farmers have been …
AFP –
YANGON (AFP) — Myanmar’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to accept food rations for three weeks, her party said Friday, …
BURMA: AUNG SAN SUU KYI REFUSES FOOD SINCE 3 WEEKS
Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, Italy –
This news came from her party, the National League for Democracy, which said the 63-year-old dissident hasn’t accepted her daily food rations brought by the …
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi refuses food for three weeks
SINDH TODAY, Pakistan –
Yangon, Sep 5 (DPA) Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has for the past three weeks refused food deliveries to her home-cum-jail in a hunger strike …
What do the Thai demonstrations mean for Burma?
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
Sep 5, 2008 (DVB)–Political tensions are running high in Thailand, with demonstrators from the People’s Alliance for Democracy calling for the resignation …
Free Trade Agreement With ASEAN Countries Announced
Mondaq News Alerts (subscription), UK –
For these purposes, Australia and New Zealand will typically have the shortest implementation timeframes and the 3 least developed countries (Burma, …
Exiled Dissident Visits Burma
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
Zaw Oo, head of the Vahu Development Institute, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, told The Irrawaddy that he made a four-day trip to Burma in July as an …
Myanmar Airways Unsafe: UK Gov’t
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
By LAWI WENG The British foreign office has issued an advisory warning it staff not to use flights operated by Myanmar Airways, Burma’s state-owned domestic …
iAfrica.com, South Africa –
Myanmar’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to accept food rations for three weeks, her party said Friday, calling on the military …
TYC President Attends IUSY Meeting
Phayul, Tibet –
The 2007 Asia Pacific Meeting asked for help to restore human rights in Tibet and support the freedom movement of Tibetan people and to put pressure on …
Aung San Suu Kyi ‘on hunger strike’
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom –
Last month she refused to meet Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy to Burma. Her refusal was interpreted at the time as a sign of frustration that his Mr …
AIPMC Appeals to Surin, Ban Ki-moon to Visit Suu Kyi
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
The letter told Surin and Ban: “We remind you that her continued well-being is vital for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Burma. …
Hunger strike
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
The detention followed an attack by pro-military thugs on Suu Kyi’s convoy in Tepeyin, Sagaing division in northern Burma on May 30, 2003. …
Suu Kyi’s party expresses concern for her health
The Associated Press –
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The political party of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged Myanmar’s military government Friday to ensure her …
UNPO, Netherlands –
Burma’s detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to meet with the junta’s liaison officer and declined a visit from her personal physician, …
Olympic hero Hoy set to receive top honour
Scotsman, United Kingdom –
They are the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Sir Sean Connery, Nelson Mandela and Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. …
Warning to Chauk monks to stay away from politics and protests
Mizzima.com, India –
New Delhi – A letter to 70 monasteries in Chauk Township, Magwe Division by the Burmese junta authorities has warned monks to steer clear of politics and …
Myanmar responded well to cyclone victims: WHO
ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland –
GENEVA, Sept 4, 2008 (AFP) – Myanmar’s military rulers provided a rapid response to victims of Cyclone Nargis last May despite criticism for shunning …
AFP –
Last month, the United Nations said 1.56 million dollars (about one million euros) of international cyclone aid has been lost due to the military regime’s …
Exotissimo Creates Trips to Irrawaddy Delta
PR Web (press release), WA –
According to Mrs. Su Su Tin, Managing Director of Exotissimo Myanmar, “Many people want to visit the Delta, see the situation with their own eyes and lend a …
Myanmar opens to cyclone relief
Seattle Times, United States –
The report said Myanmar, also known as Burma, has now more opened to international relief than at any time in the past two decades, and that the unfolding …
Vets value candidate’s experiences
Stamford Advocate, CT –
Ericsson, who served in Burma during World War II, said the US military has been worn thin by successive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and will be broken by …
Atlantic storms devastate Haiti
ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland –
Volunteer mappers were despatched following the Bolivia floods in January, and then in response to Cyclone Nargis that impacted Myanmar (Burma) in May. …
Unnoticed by world, Myanmar opens up to cyclone relief
College Times, AZ –
The report said Myanmar, which is widely known as Burma, has now more opened to international relief than at any time in the past two decades, …
David Cameron: We cannot impose democracy at the barrel of a gun
Independent, UK –
Liberal because I believe in freedom, human rights and democracy, and I want to see more of these things in our world. But Conservative, because I believe …
Sino-Indian Competition for Burmese Oil and Natural Gas
Harvard International Review, MA –
… has begun to heavily invest in Burma’s oil and natural sector. A man selling gas at a market near Inle Lake, Myanmar. Photo courtesy of FLICKR/geminder. ..
Bride import for love-sick bachelors
Daily News & Analysis, India –
Social services chiefs are already in talks with neighbours like the Ukraine, Moldova and Russia and with Far Eastern countries like Vietnam, Burma and …
Tsvangirai nominated for EU courage award
ZimDaily, UK –
Among the previous winners are former South African leader Nelson Mandela, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ex-UN secretary general Kofi Anan. …
Myanmar Silence at UN Half-Broken by Kerim, Mysteries Continue …
Inner City Press, NY –
Video here
Inner City Press asked if Gambari had told Kerim why he had not met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “Yes,” the spokesman said, then declined to …
The Naga internal Problem The Subalterns begin to speak
MorungExpress, India –
The political suffering of the Nagas Burma needed to be highlighted, debated and deliberated. But one thing that is very clear is that unless a form of …
Georgia: Good Humanitarian Donorship Betrayed
Reuters AlertNet, UK –
… for returning refugees and internally displaced people in southern Sudan, and for cyclone survivors in Burma, among many other critical situations. …
Designer bottled water: It’s not altruism
Village Times Herald, NY –
It would truly be lifesaving in the cyclone-torn Myanmar (Burma) and the earthquake-devastated Sichuan province in China. So why not effectively help the …
WHO praises Burma cyclone response
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
Coninx was the only official from WHO’s headquarters in Geneva who was immediately able to go to Burma straight after the cyclone struck on May 2-3 as he …
Europe Undergoing Severe Demographic Crisis
The Epoch Times, NY –
He proposes Serbia to import women from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Bulgaria, Romania, or Moldova to marry the many single men, whose number is …
Digital Influence Group Wins Inbound Marketing Excellence Award
MarketWatch –
… the US Campaign for Burma. Digital Influence Group developed a microsite for the campaign featuring imprisoned Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. …
Tsvangirai nominated for Sakharov prize
SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwe –
Among the previous winners are the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ex-UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
Directionless Thailand falters on world stage
Nation Multimedia, Thailand –
… was given a full range of powers to keep public order, has refused to use force to purge the People’s Alliance for Democracy from Government House. …
Hurricane Gustav losses could reach $10 billion
Environmental Finance, UK –
The highest death tolls were in the Sichuan earthquake and the Burma cyclone. Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environmental Programme warned …
Ceasefire groups in Shan State face renewed pressure to surrender
Mizzima.com, India –
New Delhi – The Burmese ruling junta has mounted fresh pressure on ceasefire armed rebel groups in Shan State to surrender arms latest by the end of 2009, …
Junta arrests two more activists
Mizzima.com, India –
New Delhi – In another round of crackdown on dissidence, Burmese military junta authorities in Rangoon on Wednesday arrested two political activists, …
World focus on Burma (14 August 2008)
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Canadian government matches $30 million in donations for China …
The Canadian Press, TORONTO –
The federal government is also matching more than $11.6 million for people affected by the cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, which killed nearly 85000 people in …
Canada matches relief donations to China, Burma
Canada.com, Canada –
The government also will contribute $11622015 to the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund, which brings the amount of aid committed to the country to more than $25
Government of Canada Helps Victims of China Earthquake and Burma …
MarketWatch –
In addition, over $11.6 million was raised for people affected by Cyclone Nargis in Burma. These matching funds will be channeled to humanitarian …
Government of Canada Helps Victims of China Earthquake and Burma …
Market Wire (press release) –
The Burma cyclone in May left nearly 140000 dead or missing. The humanitarian response by Canadians was immediate, and several organizations raised funds to …
Christian Science Monitor, MA –
The first day I came to her house, ostensibly to talk about Burma (Myanmar), she asked me to help her practice for the Georgia driver’s written exam. …
UN admits loss of about 1.56 million dollars of cyclone aid in Burma
Mizzima.com, India –
But the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, the principal bank in Burma that is used by several aid agencies to transfer aid money, on Thursday told Mizzima that ..
UN:More than $1.5 million in cyclone aid lost WTTE, OH –
UN says 1.5 mln dlrs of cyclone aid lost in Myanmar forex rules AFP –
UN says $A1.79M of cyclone aid lost Sydney Morning Herald, Australia –
UN estimates $1.56mn of cyclone aid lost in Myanmar Smash Hits, India –
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Government of Canada Contributes $18-Million in Support of Red …
MarketWatch –
“The Canadian Red Cross would like to thank the Canadian International Development Agency for their generous support of relief efforts in China and Myanmar …
USDA Expected to Form Proxy Parties for 2010 Election
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
By WAI MOE Burma’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) is reportedly planning to form proxy parties to contest the proposed …
UNICEF/WHO step up rehabilitation assistance
Mizzima.com, India –
Burma’s citizens will soon be the beneficiaries of a new $440000 investment into vaccination facilities inside the country. The United Nations Children’s …
5th press release of the Tripartite Core Group – Myanmar and the …
ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland –
Yangon, 13 August 2008 – Through the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), the Government of Myanmar and the United Nations agencies working in Myanmar have …
U Gambira raises monks’ issues with UN rights envoy
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
U Gambira’s sister Ma Khin Thu Htay said her brother had spent 20 minutes with the special rapporteur during his visit to Burma last week. …
New technology to circumvent Burma’s media control
Radio Australia, Australia –
While the world peers through the Internet’s Great Firewall of China, the miniature version in Burma seems as solid as ever. But activists and human rights …
Daw Suu’s lawyer prepares appeal after meeting
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
“She told me to ‘take the necessary steps according to the law, if the [junta’s] case is not strong enough legally’. That was what she said, although she …
Htoo trading leaves Bogalay workers unpaid
Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway –
“The Htoo trading used labour from daily paid workers in Bogalay to rebuild houses destroyed by the cyclone,” a resident said. “But after two months, …
Media Advisory/REMINDER: Government of Canada Supports Relief …
NewsBlaze, CA – 3 hours ago
… and Canadian Identity), will make an important announcement on the Government of Canada’s contribution to relief efforts in Burma and China. …
Bush as Human Rights Champion?
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand –
It remains difficult for many human rights activists around the world to understand why Burmese activists see the US government as a staunch supporter of …
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
Attracting international aid for the relief effort for Cyclone Nargis, which smashed into central Burma on May 2-3 leaving about 140000 people dead or …
Put aside poison pens and enjoy spectacular Olympics
Vancouver Sun, Canada –
We dragged all kinds of issues into the Olympics — human rights, Tibet, air quality, Burma, Taiwan, ad nauseum. China could do nothing right. …
Remote Lands Invites Guests to Experience Asia’s Most Exciting …
PR Web (press release), WA –
October: One of the most famous festivals in Myanmar (Burma) is the Elephant Dance Festival, which is centered in the village of Kyauk-se between Mandalay …
Burmese magazine misses deadline due to censors’ delay in …
Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Thailand –
A SEAPA partner, it aims to promote awareness about the situation in Burma and promote democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
Aid workers still finding it hard to help months after Myanmar cyclone
cw2.com, CO –
by Laura Main, News2 COLORADO SPRINGS (KWGN) — Three months ago, a devastating cyclone destroyed much of the country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. …
A project director for Partners Relief and Development, Mr Corlett has been involved in ongoing assistance in Burma (also known as Myanmar) and comes to …
Bangkok Post, Thailand –
According to activists of Women’s League of Burma, the country’s health-care system currently ranks 190th of 191 countries. Forty-five per cent of cyclone …
The Singapore Lecture – Building on ASEAN’s Success – Towards an …
TamilSydney.com, Australia –
And this year the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China have reminded us of the power of nature – more than 150000 lost their lives and so many …
MELANCHOLY BURMA COMMEMORATES 8-8-88 —
World Politics Review –
While the international diplomatic community and human rights groups are fierce in their lobbying for Burmese freedom — especially that of imprisoned Nobel …
China Key Arms Supplier to Human Rights Abusers
Asian Tribune, Thailand –
… out that China is currently “an arms supplier of last resort for dictators and human rights abusers”, including Sudan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar (Burma). …
UN envoy expresses hope for Myanmar
The National, United Arab Emirates –
However, since the uprising by monks in September, the human rights record in Myanmar, also sometimes known as Burma, has gone from bad to worse – including …
Georgia and Democratic Realism
Atlantic Online –
But when it says no to Liberia, or Congo, or Burma, or countenances alliances with authoritarian rulers in places like Pakistan or, for that matter, Russia, …