Burma: Junta Losing Friends

China, Singapore and Thailand have signalled their disgust with the junta’s efforts to control aid and seize it for themselves, now it looks after an interruption aid is going to be shipped.

Singapore slams Burma junta

Burma cyclone: Lack of aid relief spells refugee crisis for Thailand

The secretary-general of the United Nations and the leaders and foreign ministers of many nations including the United States, China, France and the UK have all urged the Burmese regime to allow international aid into the country to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

The Bangladesh military sent a second consignment of relief aid to Burma on Thursday and promised to continue the nation’s efforts to stand by the cyclone-battered people in the neighboring country.

So now with their usual allies showing disapproval of the Generals panicked efforts to funnel all aid through them thus achieving a political goal and ensuring they got a generous cut, things are moving again, albeit slowly.

The Disasters Emergency Committee - an umbrella organisation of 13 major aid agencies make online donations easy click here.

But also blogmig@ GodlessLiberalHomo has further refined a list to highlight the NGO’s not tied to religions-

• Direct Relief International [In the "Designation" field, choose Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone.]
• Mercy Corps
• US Campaign for Burma (Check the “Check Here to make your donation go to relief efforts” box at the bottom of the form.)
• Action Against Hunger (UK - donations in pounds - in “I want my donation to go” choose “to the Burma emergency appeal”)
• CARE UK (donations in pounds)

Avaaz also are spotlighting getting help to the monks to utilise their infrastructure to distribute aid-

The cyclone that ripped through Burma left tens of thousands dead and a million homeless–a natural disaster made much worse by the failure of the military junta to warn or evacuate its people.

Now, the government has slowed the urgent process of providing humanitarian relief–so Avaaz is raising funds for the International Burmese Monks Organization and related groups, which will transmit funds directly to monasteries in affected areas.

In many of the worst-hit areas, the monasteries are the only source of shelter and food for Burma’s poorest people. They have been on the front lines of the aid effort since the storm struck. Other forms of aid could be delayed, diverted or manipulated by the Burmese government–but the monks are the most trusted and reliable institution in the country.

For secure payment click here. For Paypal click here (specify Burma/Cylcone Nargis if needed).

Finally via Ko Htike there is a web album of the aftermath of the disaster showing the human cost, be warned.