Supplies for Burma still 'a trickle' as first US aid flight lands

Published on Monday 12 May 2008 22:11

THE first US military aid flight to Burma landed yesterday but emergency supplies remained at a trickle for 1.5 million people facing hunger and disease in the cyclone-ravaged Irrawaddy Delta.

The transport plane left Thailand's U-Tapao air base, taking water, mosquito nets and blankets to the military-ruled country, branded an "outpost of tyranny" by Washington.

Heavy rain is forecast for the delta this week, which could further hamper the relief effort.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, made clear his exasperation with the junta and its "unacceptably slow" delivery of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis since it struck on 3 May.

"Today is the 11th day since ... Nargis hit," Mr Ban said. "I want to register my deep concern – and immense frustration – at the unacceptably slow response to this grave humanitarian crisis. Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today's crisis."

With 11,000 troops, a flotilla of navy ships and air force cargo planes converging on Burma, the US military is readying its biggest relief operation since the tsunami of 2004.

President George Bush condemned the junta for failing to act more quickly, saying "either they are isolated or callous". He added: "It's been days and no telling how many people have lost their lives as a result of the slow response. An American plane finally went in but the response isn't good enough."

France is sending a warship carrying 1,500 tonnes of rice which is expected near Burma later this week. And Gordon Brown said Britain was sending a navy ship to the region.

Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the US Pacific Command, said the US navy would have three ships off the coast in up to 48 hours.

It also had 4,000 marines and a "large number" of cargo-carrying helicopters on stand-by in Thailand.