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Burma to Open Borders to All Aid Workers
Following the visit of United Nations head Ban Ki-moon, the government of Burma has agreed to open its borders to all relief workers in an effort to provide food, water, shelter and medicine to the 2.5 million people displaced following Cyclone Nargis on May 2.
An estimated 78,000 people died in Burma, most inside the Irrawaddy delta as the low-lying land was swallowed by the massive storm. An additional 56,000 are said to be missing, likely pushing the death total to well over 120,000.
The military junta that governs Burma was slow to let aid in, refusing visa requests from several countries and delaying the relief efforts for several weeks. Outrage from the international community put pressure on the government and they slowly allowed particular countries to help but when Ban visited he was adamant about securing access for all relief workers.
Many countries remain skeptical of the Burmese government’s decision and will wait to see if they are actually allowed in to provide relief.
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