Can’t the $50 million needlessly spent on chartered aircrafts be better utilized in Myanmar reconstruction if
March 14, 2010 by
Filed under Asian Programming
the Burmese generals would accept single-point-of- contact coordination services for airdrops from ASEAN or the UN?
Paul Risley, a spokesman for the World Food Program, said the junta’s refusal to let military helicopters work in the country meant the U.N. had to charter large civilian aircraft, adding greatly to his agency’s costs.
The WFP has budgeted $70 million for food and ground operations and nearly as much — $50 million — to charter the 10 helicopters, he said. It has received contributions of about $50 million toward the total, he added.
In previous large-scale disasters — such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Pakistan’s 2005 earthquake — helicopters on loan from friendly nations’ militaries were used to rush in emergency supplies, he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_re_as/myanmar
Hi Scroogie…your right you can’t argue with them but perhaps you can agree with them. An agreed upon plan of action implemented through a single source (UN, ASEAN) that would directly coordinate transport of food, materials and services through established aid agencies such as Oxfam. Though six months of continuous aid has been offered by the UN perhaps Myanmar and the UN can agree to a shorter duration of 2-3 months with an renewal option that must be approved by the UN and Myanmar. The spread of disease and the potential of famine must not be allowed to grow. People have a right to food.
Yes, but that is simply not the case. And in their country, they make the rules.
In all the situations it is either do or die only, prevails! If we need to help the people who are crushed by barbaric military, why just talk to them, just invade to dislodge that military and install a popular government by choice elected duly by people in referendum! The United Nations must have the provision as a law empowering to take action this way for all those nations who follow the way of Myanmar military junta!
The United Nations must be made as the most powerful body with enormous power to engage its multi-national armed forces to remove the dictatorial regimes, military dictatorships, one party rule etc of anti-people, undemocratic regimes and to govern the same to establish peace and to restore democracy for a governance by popular choice! Those who ruled barbarically in butchering the people must also stand trial before an international tribunal for prosecution and toughest penalties!
you can’t argue with those generals.