US Navy leaves Myanmar without delivering aid

The US Navy has decided to recall its ships from Myanmar waters because the government has refused to let them help victims of Cyclone Nargis.

US Navy officials say there have been fifteen failed attempts to convince the Myanmar junta to allow US personnel to help people in the cyclone affected delta region.

The 22 heavy-lift helicopters on board US ships would have been able to deliver aid to tens of thousands of people.

French and British navy ships have also been withdrawn after being refused permission to operate.

133,000 people are either dead or missing due to the havoc wreaked by Cyclone Nargis.

More than a month after the disaster, the UN estimates that 2.4 million people are in need of food, shelter or medical care, and more than a million have yet to receive foreign aid.

Malaysia Sun
05/06/08

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