Cyclone death toll nears 4,000 in Myanmar, state radio says

YANGON, Myanmar — A state radio station says the death toll from a devastating cyclone in Myanmar has risen to nearly 4,000. The radio station said Monday that almost 3,000 others are unaccounted for in a single town.

The government had previously put the death toll countrywide from Saturday's Cyclone Nargis at 351. The storm has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without clean drinking water, a U.N. official has said.

Comments

[Hare]

One town alone 10,000 The tally keeps rising now is over 15,000. Sad, very sad and who really cares for the suffering that is to come in the next few days. The thirst and disease that will claim many more. It brings back the gray days after Katrina and all those folks trapped at the dome in the heat and thirsty.

[newzzzjunkie]

Although Myanmar suffered a terrible tragedy, I found it interesting that Laura Bush came out with comments about how we should come to their aid. I'm not disagreeing with that idea but I was thinking where was George and Laura during the tragedy of Katrina. Same thing just a different scale. Ironic, I thought.

[Bluesage]

When the Tsunami hit there was so much help and money raised from ordinary people here and around the world but Myanmar is politically isolated by their government it will be very hard to get help to them. This is so very sad.

[Bluesage]

Did anyone see Laura Bush at her "news" conference? It was bizarre! First she called it Burma about 300 times - never Myanmar. It was almost like she was auditioning for McCrazy's running mate. I just kept wondering if Georgie was passed out drunk somewhere and she had to step in. I don't think what she said did much good for the poor people of Myanmar.

[oncethere]

Yeah, I heard a snippet of her criticizing the Myanmar governmnet---I think this is what I heard---for not heeding the warnings of an imminent storm and for not providing for the basic needs of it's people.

Thankfully, we don't have to worry about that kind of thing here. On second thought....

[Kritter]

The estimated total is now 10,000 people dead. The government says the number will probably rise making this cyclone the most deadly in history, passing a cyclone hitting India in 1999 killing 10,000 people.

The only possible good to come out of this horror is the Myanmar (Burma) government "might" lose some of their power if not all because of the international aid coming in. For once the country has to be opened up and the army will have to be used for purposes other than keeping a lid on the people.

We can pray for both the people of Myanmar and for the government to be more open while sending money.

[meanpeoplesuck]

Once again, the same old sad cast of characters have to inject 'soldiers dying in Iraq' and 'George Bush' into a sad story that has no needs no political commentary. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

[TinaFreeman]

Anyone have thoughts on which relief agency would be best to donate to? I know Red Cross is already down there, but CNN is pushing UNICEF.

[Kritter]

Tina,

The only agency I have heard about trying to enter Myanmar/Burma is the UN. They are setting up meetings with the government to see how to get aid to the people the 5 regions declared disaster zones.

If you want the most updated information go to www.bbc.co.uk. This is the BBC homepage and they have been keeping this story up front and central all day. They will probably have an extended story on Myanmar this evening at 6:00 and 10:00pm est on BBC World News America on the BBC America cable/dish channel if you'd like to get more information than our news shows will give.

Bless you for wanting to give money so soon.

[Delle]

Red Cross is good, but please don't give your donation to any association that's part of the UN. It will never get there.

It may be repugnant to you, but churches are a good place to start.

Catholic Charities sends almost all of the money to the cause intended. Protestant churches can also be relied on. Operation Blessings is honest and worthy.

I know how difficult it is to find the proper agency. I am looking around now myself.

Good Luck

[RedBirdy]

How sad and tragic. Things like this make me feel so helpless. My heart goes out to those victims and their families. This is the shit we should be focused on, instead of all the bitter back and forth bickering about other things. In a world full of celebrity driven shows and magazines, we can sometimes forget there are real issues we should be focused on. Are any of our troops available for the US to send them? Or are they dying for no reason in Iraq?

[KOisGod]

Mother nature meads out her anger on those who violate the law of Love.

America, you will be next.

[Chuckwheat]

Sounds like you're not writing a check to the Red Cross. Have a nice day in your dark little corner of hell.

[Kritter]

Chuck,

Amen to that.

[madprophet]

Ummm...has anybody looked at the geography and population density of Burma? It is a nation slightly smaller that Texas, with a population of 48 million. Three mountain chains run north-south in the country, which significantly reduces the amount of land available for habitation. A large chunk of the country is the Irrawaddy delta, which is very low-lying.

So guess what, when huge amounts of water fall or are driven onto a low-lying area, there is this thing called flooding. If the people have no where to go because of the population density, then lots of people die.

Though sad, this is something that happens on a regular basis. Given the population increase in Burma is 0.8% per annum, they are increasing their population at 384,000 humans/year. They will repopulate this loss in 10 days.

You can say that is terrible not caring about the people, but those are the facts. And if the U.S. cared so much about ordinary people, guess you would not have wiped out who knows how many Iraqi citizens.

[dgscol]

The Chinese are quick to put down Tibetans - why haven't they provided assistance to the
Burmese?

[Kritter]

Because the Myanmar government is pretty much closed to them also. They want to share any power they have with no one. They want to keep to themselves and in country.

[stepintothelight]

Hey you idiots ... It's now up to almost 10,000 ... Go ahead and joke about it.

TOOLS!!!

[Smartey]

Really, it's hard to wring your hands over a loss of 4,000 lives. Almost that many died on 9-11, and everyone knows we've gotten beyond that. Getting worked up over the deaths of a few thousand leads people to do crazy things, like start wars. We should just ignore these kinds of losses.

[mscreant]

PLEASE tell me you are joking! If not......I cannot even articulate the suffering I wish on you as karmic payback for that comment. Idiot.

[drjasonmd]

Keep in mind, however, by wishing suffering on him you are acruing your own Karmic debt.

Don't get worked up over it. People act strange online.

[personalpolitical]

It's Burma

[axt113]

Hope you said it's new york on 9/11

[kellygrrrl]

how sad! my condolences go out to this nation of people

[e2008usa]

OK... WE ARE THE PEOPLES, WE ARE THE GOOD PEOPLES... AND
WE WILL PRAY FOR YOUR WIFE... AS THE DEAL IS ... NOT TO VOTE FOR HER

Ok,

[Kalima]

I commented on this story yesterday, could this be true?
Where is the world wide aid and do we have to wait for permission from our respective
governments to help?
If this is in fact the case, come on let's do what we can as individuals before our
constipated governments as an excuse for protocol, decide it might be good to pretend
they care. Image is everything, remember?

[Chavez08]

Governments are only good for oppressing people and causing death on very large scales. We are a Capitalist society controlled by a "Law Enforcement" culture and the only money to be spent will be for maintaining order and protecting the status-quo.

it's not in the interest of Capitalism to act humanely unless there is profit to be made.

[Cautious]

I was going to say that John Lennon had it right- "Instant Karma's going to get you."

The problem is that this government could be as resistive to aid as a government like North Korea, and not allow foreign goverments or foreign people in because the government of this country is extremely heavy-handed.

Remember the protests a few months ago with Buddhist monks in the street, and then suddenly very quiet?

This government calls the country "Myanmar". It's Burma.

[Economike]

Karma's not always so instant. Look at Stalin.

[kellygrrrl]

remember when Bush said we don't need no stinkin' help from Mexico????