Asia-Pacific News
UN food agency to resume relief flights to Myanmar (Extra)
May 9, 2008, 15:28 GMT
Rome - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced Friday it intends to resume aid flights to cyclone-struck Myanmar, thus reversing a decision taken just hours before to suspend the flights.
'The World Food Programme has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow (Saturday)' WFP Director of Public Policy and Communications, Nancy E. Roman, said in a statement released by the agency's Rome headquarters.
WFP would 'continue discussions' with Myanmar's military government on the release of food flown in earlier Friday and then impounded upon arrival, the statement said.
With reports of a possible 100,000 cyclone deaths in Myanmar, WFP had earlier announced it had suspended relief flights after 38 tons of aid were impounded by authorities in the disaster-struck country.
The UN aid efforts have also been hampered by difficulties in obtaining visas from Myanmar's military government, which faced further condemnation Friday for failing to waive visa restrictions for humanitarian workers in the wake of the devastating storm.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Asia-Pacific
- 1. Chinese dissidents hail late democracy activist Fang Lizhi
- 2. China "worried" over planned North Korea rocket launch
- 3. Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets Karen rebels
- 4. Chinese schoolboy sells kidney to buy iPad, iPhone
- 5. Myanmar president invites Karen rebels to form party
Older Talkback
page: 1
page: 1
JoeMay 9th, 2008 - 16:22:02
Well, at least their military will be well fed. I feel sorry for the villagers, they'll never see an ounce of that relief food.
Report this comment