Myanmar

UN food programme suspends aid flights

Article published on the 2008-05-09 Latest update 2008-05-10 07:33 TU

Aid in Myanmar, but no foreign aid workers
(Photo: Reuters)

The World Food Programme has suspended all aid flights to Myanmar, where it believes 1.5 million people are at risk of disease and starvation. The UN agency accuses the military rulers of imposing "unacceptable" restrictions on its work. Earlier, the government insisted that it must distribute aid, not foreign aid workers.

As over a million people struggle to survive in flooded regions of the country, the World Food Programme (WFP) suspended flights and Myanmar's military rulers refused to back down on its stance.

"We have to find a way to resolve the problem as soon as possible," said the WFP's Myanmar director Chris Kaye.

But he dubbed the government's restrictions "unacceptable".

An official statement invited foreign countries and agencies to donate emergency provisions such as medical supplies, food and clothes but insisted that the government would distribute them.

International agencies insist that their workers have the experience necessary to tackle the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. But Myanmar authorities have refused to issue visas to them.

"At a time like this every hour counts," Thailand-based WFP official Paul Risley told RFI. "We are now in day six and we are very fearful that hundreds of thousands of people have still not received the urgent care they need."

The military, who have governed Myanmar for 46 years, are wary of granting entry to aid workers from countries critical of their rule. The US and several of its allies operate sanctions against the military régime.