May 7, 2008

Myanmar Needs Every Help Possible

By P.B. Masdal |

Posted In : News & Info, ASEAN Issues

Just months after being perturbed by widespread conflict, where hundreds of monks took to the streets in protests of the military junta there, where some have been fatally shot at, Myanmar is once again thrown into a crisis, this time all the more grave and lamentable.

Cyclone Nargis lashed at the southwestern region of Myanmar, along the famed Irriwaddy delta, and left more than 22,000 people killed. At that rate, this tragedy has become of massive proportion as the number of deaths is expected to rise steadily where 40,000 others remain missing and unaccounted for.

The first time I heard about the cyclone hitting Myanmar, I was not as perturbed at that point considering that in this part of the world, harsh weather conditions mostly come and go throughout the year, especially such as in the Philippine situation. But hours after I heard the initial reports from CNN, I began to hear the word “cyclone” and that got me a little bit more disturbed. I never thought a cyclone exist or could possibly happen in this part of the world, for I’ve never heard windstorms passing through the Asian region called that way. Tropical cyclones are often termed as typhoons around here.

But Nargis was called a cyclone even from the beginning, bringing such havoc.

It is but sad for our neighbor Myanmar. I have been in full disagreement to the military rule there, especially with Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi still being persecuted there under a prolonged house arrest but the Myanmar people surely doesn’t need to be disturb by yet another ugly situation. It’s just a bad thing for them.

I hope the aids and assistance from the international community would continue to pour in and not be delayed any second more. A minute delay might mean lives being saved or lost. Electricity is all cut-down. Water is not to be found. Shelter is ever more needed. It’s time that the military junta there set aside their all-too-ardent politics and allow every possible assistance to come in.

Earlier, an American response team were disallowed entry into the affected area as the military government continues to be adamant against the U.S. government and wouldn’t allow any possibility of an American military presence there, even for just a small length of time, despite the urgent necessity for assistance.

EU had pledged about 3 Million dollars and that would be just be about sufficient for the immediate concerns. But U.S. personnel are more experienced and far more capable to respond to this kind of situation that their presence is of extreme necessity there. I hope politics should take a backseat for now. Lives of thousands in the Irriwaddy delta are at stake here and that should be the main focus now.

And I hope members of ASEAN, like the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand should extend the most help possible, and it is time to apply and put into action the ASEAN spirit of neighborliness and cooperation and help Myanmar get out of this very distressing situation.

41 Comments »

1. Jayred says; May 7, 2008 @ 5:32 pm

   It was really devastating—the number of people who perished, and the number of people who are now homeless.

   Myanmar should accept aid from the US and the international community. I bet aid workers are facing logistical nightmares now to help ease the condition of the tropical cyclone victims.

2. Ferdz says; May 7, 2008 @ 7:11 pm

   I also never thought cyclones exist in Asia. True Myanmar seems to be at their trying times right now. I don’t know how our country can help since we also seem to be facing some crisis. I guess medical aid would do good. I mean 22000 casualties? That’s quite a number, I sure there’s also a big number of injured people as well.

3. Major Tom says; May 7, 2008 @ 7:34 pm

   To Jayred: The death toll is just alarming, considering that another 40,000 remains missing. This is one tragedy that should bring the world together, including the United States, who remains a staunch critic of the military junta in Myanmar.

4. Major Tom says; May 7, 2008 @ 7:37 pm

   To Ferdz: The reports seem to point out that way, 40,000 missing and a similarly large number of injured and those without food, shelter and medicine.

   That’s quite true—-us having this rice crisis and yet an ASEAN neighbor is needing help. Maybe we could best send some of our engineering and medical personnel, those that were trained for this kind of situation.

5. snglguy says; May 7, 2008 @ 8:34 pm

   The loses are really staggering, nakakaawa na. I’m sure the Philippines, as a good neighbor, would extend all the help it can muster given its scarce resource. Like you said, maybe we can send doctors and nurses to help out. It’s the least we can do in lieu of money and materials.

6. Major Tom says; May 7, 2008 @ 9:19 pm

   To sngl: That’s what I am thinking. Our medical professionals could be of much help.

7. Major Tom says; May 7, 2008 @ 9:19 pm

   To sngl: That’s what I was thinking. Our medical professionals could be of much help.

8. Panaderos says; May 7, 2008 @ 10:28 pm

   In the true Asian spirit, ASEAN should extend a coordinate hand of assistance to Myanmar at this hour. Help is urgently needed.

   I had the same initial reaction as you did when I first heard of the storm approaching that nation. I initally waived the news off as one of those things. I was shocked to find later that it had wreaked such tremendous havoc on those poor people. Very sad.

9. Haze says; May 8, 2008 @ 2:55 am

   This is worrying me because we are near Myanmar and it is not really common to us Asian countries as natural catastrophe. I just hope that there would be more help to come for the victims and the rich countries will reach out hand in hand.

   As for the Philippine government I don’t know if we can help financially (co’z we also have scarcity). The only thing we can do to help is by giving some of our clothes, goods and other things that we don’t want anymore but it’s still usable.

10. ipanema says; May 8, 2008 @ 11:37 am

    Does it need a cyclone to let Mynmar’s Military Junta open up to the Western world? Let’s see if they’ll let people suffer if they’d say no to humanitarian help.

    With or without the government’s permission, every one has a responsibility to help the civilians.

    I hope more will pledge for this huge emergency relief.

    God bless the people. let’s keep them in our prayers – both the living and their dead.

11. donG hO says; May 8, 2008 @ 6:12 pm

    i read one news that the death toll might be even higher. but they did not allow help yet from other nations. i cant imagine it if it happens in the philippines.

12. Major Tom says; May 8, 2008 @ 7:48 pm

    To Panaderos: It came like a fanthom, never realized the extent of damage until the dust had settled down.

13. Major Tom says; May 8, 2008 @ 7:49 pm

    To Haze: That was worrying me too, Haze since Myanmar is just within our vicinity, it could happen here. In fact I remember Ormoc for this.

14. Major Tom says; May 8, 2008 @ 7:53 pm

    To ipanema: At the rate, even this tragedy wouldn’t let the military junta over there to soften their iron grasp and it’s still a problem till now how aids in forms of food and medicine could not come in just because the government there is not all too willing to let personnel from western donor countries in. They’d even announced how teh situation ahd allegedly “stabilized” just to thwart US help. Now, that’s too much In my opinion. Too much self-absorption of the Myanmar government.

15. Major Tom says; May 8, 2008 @ 7:56 pm

    To Dong Ho: I surely hope it won’t bro. The death toll is just too grave.

16. joanne says; May 9, 2008 @ 8:02 am

    The most recent news is the military is finally letting UN aid through (they’ve rejected US aid though). Aside from the number of deaths directly caused by the cyclone – and it’s already of catastrophic proportions – there are still those who will suffer and die from disease and lack of food and shelter.

    One of my classmates in high school was born in Myanmar and lives not too far from me. I hope his family was saved from this tragedy.

17. Major Tom says; May 9, 2008 @ 2:54 pm

    To Joanne: I hope your friends family are doing fine and not caught within the path of destruction.

    At this point, medical assistance is most crucial that medicines should be high on the priority for those who send aids and assistance.

18. spliceanddice says; May 9, 2008 @ 8:46 pm

    Myanmar’s case is an example of how a strong military rule remains fearful towards the outside world. In a dire time like this, Myanmar’s pride is put to the test. Here you have other countries wanting to provide help but is held aback by the fears of a devastated nation.

    But even times like these supercede the grip of a stringent rule.

19. bw says; May 9, 2008 @ 10:09 pm

    I heard on the radio that the military government had “refused” delivery of some donations. If this is true, then it is truly pathetic

20. annamanila says; May 10, 2008 @ 9:13 am

    Didn’t we send a medical team recently to Myanmar? Yup, countries should help each other for in the end there is only one big (united) nation.

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