U.N. 'furious' as Myanmar aid 'seized'

CNN
Friday, May 9, 2008

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Aid agencies are furious over the Myanmar's government's refusal to allow them to distribute food and supplies flown in for cyclone disaster victims.

The ruling military junta has been allowing planes to land, but is not letting the cargo be distributed by most foreign aid workers, especially those from Western nations.

The Asia head of the United Nations' World Food Program said Friday that the government had seized the contents of two flights that arrived in the morning at Yangon which carried enough food for 95,000 people. They contained 38 tons of high-energy biscuits, medical kits and other items.

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"We off-loaded the food, and then the authorities refused us permission to take that food away," WFP director Tony Banbury said.

"We were told we needed a special letter from the Minister of Social Welfare. We hand-delivered a request to him. The answer back was 'No, you can't have the food.'

"That food is now sitting on the tarmac doing no good. I'm furious. This is unacceptable."

In response, the U.N. suspended future flights but then later Friday said it would resume emergency airlifts on Saturday.

However, the WFP -- which under U.N. rules must control and distribute its aid supplies -- said later that it would try to send more aid.

"The World Food Program has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow, while discussions continue with the government of Myanmar," spokeswoman Nancy Roman said Friday.

The Danish Red Cross said only one out of 10 people have received some kind of aid in the six days since the cyclone hit, The Associated Press reported.

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