Cyclone Kills 10,000 In One Myanmar Town: Report

Countries worldwide promised help to Myanmar after a cyclone killed 10,000 people in just one town, suggesting the overall death toll in the impoverished military-run Southeast Asian nation will be much higher.

"In Irrawaddy division the death toll amounts to more than 10,000," said Tuesday morning's Myanmar TV broadcast. "The missing is about 3,000. In Bogalay, the death toll is about 10,000."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Kalima]

I have just been informed by a BBC e-mail, that the death toll has exceeded 23,000.

[bkholmes79]

We have no moral obligation to respond to this disaster. This country is a walking hellhole and the govt there doesn't even want our help. Where do you kool-aid drinkers think the money we give them would go? It would go straight into the pocket of corrupt govt. officials. I shocked that you all aren't blaming America for this tragic disaster. Im sick of the U.S. helping all these third world dumps. Let China and Russia send relief. I mean, they're so much better to their people then the U.S. is to theirs.

[Amsterdam83]

If you call yourself a Christian (and I have no idea if you do or not), you're a hypocrite.

[uvymopkq]

Why isent the Congress doing something. Send money, call out the UN, demand that Obama and Clinton show some leadership in Congress. This is their big chance to show us what they can do!

[HumeSkeptic]

HOW TO HELP

World Vision is accepting cash donations at worldvision.org or by calling 888-562-4453.

World Concern is accepting cash donations at crista.org or by calling 206-755-6086.

U.S. Campaign for Burma, an activist group that opposes the military regime in Myanmar, is collecting relief donations at uscampaignforburma.org.

[Kalima]

Thanks Hume! I will call my bank tomorrow as we've had a week of holidays here.
I am in shock at the staggering loss of life in a country that has suffered so much
already. I hope that there are as usual many groups who as usual are off the mark
before individual governments get off their collective lazy behinds, to help a poor
country, who don't have the resources. The people affected now need shelter and
access to clean water. Follow Hume's lead and please help in any way you can. .

[ahdam]

22 500 dead and HuffPo is still running with this empty McCain story as top news? Priorities?

[kellygrrrl]

We are truly sick!!!!!

[Trueheart]

Amen.
We Americans live in such a bubble, but that is on its way to bursting. What would we do in the face of death losses of this magnitude? Not many of us believe that our government could manage to provide relief. A lot of us would be on our knees praying for divine intervention. How many of us would be resourceful enough to start rebuilding with only the help of their neighbors?

[MNmommy]

Oops, make that 22,000 with another 40 some thousand missing persons.

[Witchitalineman]

How very sad.

[ZenJu]

Did anyone see that a group of "concerned Christians" is praying at a gas pump in Washington for the Almighty to intervene for lower prices? Amazing, the priorities...Here's an excerpt:

'The half-dozen activists -- Twyman, a former Miss Washington DC, the owner of a small construction company and two volunteers at a local soup kitchen -- joined hands, bowed their heads and intoned a heartfelt prayer.

"Lord, come down in a mighty way and strengthen us so that we can bring down these high gas prices," Twyman said to a chorus of "amens".

"Prayer is the answer to every problem in life... We call on God to intervene in the lives of the selfish, greedy people who are keeping these prices high," Twyman said on the gas station forecourt in a neighborhood of Washington that, like many of its residents, has seen better days.

"Lord, the prices at this pump have gone up since last week. We know that you are able, that you have all the power in the world," he prayed, before former beauty queen Rashida Jolley led the group in a modified version of the spiritual, "We Shall Overcome".

"We'll have lower gas prices, we'll have lower gas prices..." they sang.

At the weekend, Twyman had led a group of around 200 people in prayer at pumps in San Francisco, where gas is touching the four-dollars-a-gallon mark.'

[uvymopkq]

And your point?

[SecretSquirrel666]

No point necessary, it kinda' speaks for itself.

[Triangle1]

I couldn't help but notice, the official White House announcement discussing this tragedy came from Laura Bush. Had George Bush come to the podium and said "The United States is ready to help you as needed. Just tell us how to help," he would have been sharply criticized for the willingness to help a distant country, yet unwilling to get the lead out on the Katrina Hurricane disaster. What a mess he's made. He can't even support his own country's citizens in the aid of another country's disaster because he's such a bumbling idiot! How calculating to put Laura Bush out there because he knows no one will criticize her so-called good deed.

[brianbull1]

With the death toll now at 15,000 ,and in spite of our economic woes , we have a moral obligation to immediately respond in any way possible.
Granted Europe will have to carry the ball on this one ,but with this being the 3rd major natural disaster to hit this region in 4 years ;these people are ill eqiupped to do anything to help themselves.
I hope we as Americans still remember what we have stood for in the 6 decades prior the present ,and we are still willing to answer the call.

[Hare]

In the coming days many more will be dying of thirst, hunger or disease. I pray for all please join me.

[iPolitics]

RIP