VOA标准英语2008年-UN: Nearly Half of Burmese Cyclone Victims Don'

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
03 June 2008

The United Nations reports only about half of the 2.4 million survivors 1 of Burma's devastating 2 Cyclone 3 Nargis have received assistance. But, it says that aid is generally spotty and not enough. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
　






A young boy and his family sit waiting for aid inside their destroyed home in the Burmese village of Angu, 02 Jun 2008

Just over a month ago, Burma's deadliest storm in 40 years struck the country, killing 4 tens of thousands of people and rendering 5 millions homeless. The United Nations says aid agencies have managed to reach 1.3 million victims in the worst hit parts of the Irrawaddy Delta 6.

Spokeswoman for the UN Organization for the Coordination 7 of Humanitarian 8 Assistance, Elizabeth Byrs, describes this as progress.

"However, with regards to the beneficiaries it is important to note that most of these persons have been reached with inconsistent levels of assistance," said Byrs. "For example, assistance provided is not sustained and in some cases is well below requirements. That is why there remains 9 a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance."

Nevertheless, compared to the weeks following the cyclone disaster, the humanitarian situation has improved. The Burmese military rulers, which had rejected most offers of foreign aid, finally relented under intense international pressure.

Relief supplies now are regularly being flown into Rangoon. And, Byrs says it now is much easier for U.N. international staff to go out into the field to help the victims. She says U.N. foreign workers are granted access to these areas within 48 hours after notifying the authorities.

But, she says the Burmese authorities do not accord the same privilege to foreign specialists working for international and non-governmental agencies such as the International Red Cross Federation 10 and Save the Children. And, this she says, is hampering 11 the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation.

"We would urge the government to extend this expedited clearance 12 to all international NGO's [non-governmental organizations] who are working in Myanmar. Their staff is urgently required on the ground."
　






People affected 13 by cyclone Nargis wait to board boats prior to travel back to their devastated 14 villages in Labutta, in the southwest Irrawaddy Delta, Burma, 03 Jun 2008

Byrs says international experts have begun an important assessment 15 mission to the stricken area to get a clear picture of all the needs. She says a full report will be ready toward the end of the month.

In the meantime, foreign aid groups are calling on the Burmese authorities to stop closing cyclone relief camps. Human rights groups have condemned 16 the authorities for evicting 17 displaced people from government shelters and pushing them to go to the homes that have been swept away.