UN, Myanmar put positive spin on cyclone relief
Donor Conference: Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Masna, (2nd R, Front Row) the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other delegates, listening to speakers at the Asean International Pledging Conference on Cyclone Nargis in Yangon, yesterday.Picture: AFP
Monday, May 26, 2008
THE United Nations and Myanmar's military government put a positive spin on differences over relief and rebuilding needs for millions of cyclone survivors at a pledging conference in Yangon yesterday.
Aid workers say that three weeks after Cyclone Nargis left 134,000 people dead or missing and up to 2.5 million destitute, parts of the stricken Irrawaddy Delta have still not been reached while the government seeks money for infrastructure.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the one-day meeting that red tape had been "a serious obstacle to organising effective aid and assistance operations".
But he added that "the government appears to be moving to implement these accords", referring to a promise made to him by junta supremo Than Shwe on Friday to allow in disaster experts of all nationalities after weeks of restrictions.
Prime Minister Thein Sein thanked the 500 delegates from 50 countries for all the assistance since the May 2 storm and sea surge struck the delta and Yangon, the former capital.
"We would warmly welcome any assistance and aid which are provided with genuine goodwill from any country or organisation, provided that there are no strings attached nor politicisation involved," Thein Sein, a Lieutenant-General, said. Much of the fund-raising is likely to centre on the UN's $201 million ($273 million) emergency appeal. Ban said that 30 per cent had been contributed and 20 per cent pledged.
"I urge you to be more generous today... We have a chance for a new beginning today," he said at the conference, jointly organised by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Myanmar is one of 10 members.
The government says the combination of its own relief efforts and international help has already moved the operation into the rebuilding phase, and is asking for $11 billion ($14.9 billion) in pledges for resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
It presented a video on the cyclone and its aftermath, with a tone suggesting things were under control. The generals said Myanmar had enough rice for itself but a reduced amount for export. It needed to rebuild salt facilities, houses, schools, health clinics, and religious and public buildings.
Minister of National Planning Soe Tha presented a detailed briefing and said more than half a million acres of salt-contaminated farmland needed to be regenerated in time for the next crop season.
For Asean, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo emphasised the humanitarian nature of the mission and to keep out politics in a country that is under tougher Western sanctions following the army's crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year.
"We must avoid politicising the aid that we give" and focus on helping the Myanmar people "full stop ", Yeo said.
Only a quarter of those in need have been reached in Myanmar.Reuters
Aid workers say that three weeks after Cyclone Nargis left 134,000 people dead or missing and up to 2.5 million destitute, parts of the stricken Irrawaddy Delta have still not been reached while the government seeks money for infrastructure.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the one-day meeting that red tape had been "a serious obstacle to organising effective aid and assistance operations".
But he added that "the government appears to be moving to implement these accords", referring to a promise made to him by junta supremo Than Shwe on Friday to allow in disaster experts of all nationalities after weeks of restrictions.
Prime Minister Thein Sein thanked the 500 delegates from 50 countries for all the assistance since the May 2 storm and sea surge struck the delta and Yangon, the former capital.
"We would warmly welcome any assistance and aid which are provided with genuine goodwill from any country or organisation, provided that there are no strings attached nor politicisation involved," Thein Sein, a Lieutenant-General, said. Much of the fund-raising is likely to centre on the UN's $201 million ($273 million) emergency appeal. Ban said that 30 per cent had been contributed and 20 per cent pledged.
"I urge you to be more generous today... We have a chance for a new beginning today," he said at the conference, jointly organised by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Myanmar is one of 10 members.
The government says the combination of its own relief efforts and international help has already moved the operation into the rebuilding phase, and is asking for $11 billion ($14.9 billion) in pledges for resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
It presented a video on the cyclone and its aftermath, with a tone suggesting things were under control. The generals said Myanmar had enough rice for itself but a reduced amount for export. It needed to rebuild salt facilities, houses, schools, health clinics, and religious and public buildings.
Minister of National Planning Soe Tha presented a detailed briefing and said more than half a million acres of salt-contaminated farmland needed to be regenerated in time for the next crop season.
For Asean, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo emphasised the humanitarian nature of the mission and to keep out politics in a country that is under tougher Western sanctions following the army's crackdown on pro-democracy protests last year.
"We must avoid politicising the aid that we give" and focus on helping the Myanmar people "full stop ", Yeo said.
Only a quarter of those in need have been reached in Myanmar.Reuters
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