U.N. Suspends Myanmar Relief after Government Seizes Aid Shipments

The United Nations has suspended their relief efforts in Myanmar after the military junta that runs the devastated country seized aid shipments meant to be distributed to those who survived the catastrophic cyclone that struck last Friday and into Saturday.

U.N. World Food Program spokesman Paul Risley stated, “All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated. For the time being, we have no choice but to end further efforts to bring critical needed food aid into Myanmar at this time.”

The government admitted they seized at least two shipments of U.N. relief that included enough food for nearly 100,000 people. There are an estimated 1.5 million in need of food and medical relief as a result of the cyclone.

Cyclone Nargis devastated the Irrawaddy delta, submerging the low-lying lands and causing the largest loss of life. While the death toll has remained at 23,000 there have been some reports that the toll will rise to more than 100,000 with 65,000 from the Irrawaddy delta.

Fears of not just hunger but disease have begun to crop up as animal and human corpses continue to float in waters, posing the dangers of serious diseases that could be spread very easily. Despite the grave needs of its citizens, the Myanmar government has refused to allow foreign aid workers into the country and has expressed a willingness to accept cash or kind but no foreign help.

The U.N. has just announced they would begin shipments once more on Saturday.

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