How to Help in Burma Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

The levels of devastation in Burma seem to be mindboggling.  CNN is now reporting that there may be more then 100,000 dead.  I've spoken to some friends in the human rights community and right now there is still very little information.  But they suggested CARE's relief program for Burma as a good place to contribute funds. 

Comments

[Diodotus]

Moveon.org has forwarded an email to its members arguing that the best way to send money is directly to monasteries through a small NGO like Avaaz.org, because aid organizations like CARE must negotiate access with the government. See http://www.avaaz.org/en/

[Anita Sharma]

Actually, the movement of aid into and then throughout Burma is ALL controlled by the government. Currently ten UN agencies and 48 international NGOs are already operating inside the country with government permission, according to Refugees International. http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/10607
The main issues are the government's refusal to grant visa to any foreigners and insistance on controlling the distribution of assistance.

So far only a few UN planes have been allowed inside the country, which is troubling. In Indonesia, where I worked after the tsunami, they established an air bridge 48 hours after the disaster. It's now been over a week since the cyclone hit, and the government offices responsible for issuing visas closed for the weekend. I'm told that 35
agencies from 18 countries waiting for visas, not to mention the myriad of NGOs.

The magnitude of the crisis is too immense for the junta to handle alone and requires the expertise and assistance of UN agencies and NGOs operating in the country. However given recent events, the isolationist military regime is very reluctant to place its trust in the international community, lest it lead to its downfall. Some have condemned the junta and say that non-consensual food drops may be called for. However most, including France's Bernard Kouchner (who has softened his rhetoric after urging a UN resolution compelling Burma to accept outside aid) are insisting that aid come before politics. What needs to happen most right now is getting access to the areas most affected by the cyclone. Countries with close ties to the military regime: China, India and Thailand have the best chance of convincing them of the severity of the crisis and helping to coordinate the relief effort. India and Thailand have already flown in aid, so let's see if they're can convince the government to allow others to do the same.