Myanmar Not Ready For Help

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Posted on May 8th, 2008 by vicezilla

Just how screwed up does a government have to be to declare that they are not ready for help? What, do they feel the need to tidy up a bit? You know, sweep, vacuum, fluff the pillows, etc. etc.?

Seeing as news that comes from the iron fisted junta controlling Myanmar, the only release made by the government consists of oner sentence:

Myanmar is “not ready” for foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone, the foreign ministry said Friday in a state newspaper, announcing that some aid workers had been deported.

Having worked in organized search and rescue teams throughout Central America for a number of years, I know a thing or two about dealing with governments and offering aid after a major natural disaster. The majority of the governments at first seem a little indignant that they need outside help to overcome the situation. It’s only natural because there is an overwhelming sense of not being able to help your own people. But that is quickly replaced with a sense of relief as country’s with massive resources at their disposal show up with the right tools for the job. Food, water, medical supplies, medical personnel, search and rescue teams, heavy equipment, portable shelters. You name it, they got it. Countries like the U.S, and Canada don’t worry about the price tag until the effort is finished.

Its too easy to compare the half-assed effort of the FEMA debacle and New Orleans with offering aid to other countries after a natural disaster, and I’m not going to go there. But Myanmar needs assistance in the worst way. Only problem is, we like many other countries have offered to help, but have had the door slammed in our faces by a ruthless. uncaring government.

For them to say “they are not ready for help,” is basically them telling the world “if the phone doesn’t ring, its us.” No, Myanmar is quite content to let their citizens suffer while they wonder what to make of all the offers of help from the country’s who truly can make a difference. Do they care? Nope, not at all. When they start caring, they will declare they are ready for help. In the mean time, all we can do is sit and wait for them to be ready.