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Aid Boat Sinks Near Myanmar

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The Associated Press

Published: May 12, 2008

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's monumental task of feeding and sheltering 1.5 million cyclone survivors suffered yet another blow Sunday when a boat laden with relief supplies - one of the first international shipments - sank on its way to the disaster zone.

The death toll jumped to more than 28,000 and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned that "malign neglect" by the isolated nation's military rulers was creating a "humanitarian catastrophe of genuinely epic proportions."

The junta has been criticized for its handling of the May 3 disaster, from failing to provide adequate warnings about the storm to responding slowly to offers of help.

Though international assistance has started trickling in, the few foreign relief workers who have been allowed entry into Myanmar have been restricted to the largest city of Yangon. Only a handful have succeeded in getting past checkpoints into the worst-affected areas.

But in what was seen as a concession by the junta, the United States got the go-ahead to send a cargo plane packed with supplies to Yangon today, with two more air shipments scheduled to land Tuesday.

Highlighting the many challenges ahead, however, a Red Cross boat carrying rice, water and other goods for more than 1,000 people sank Sunday near hard-hit Bogalay.

All four aid workers on board were safe.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies could not say how much of the cargo was lost, but said the food supplies were contaminated.

"Apart from the delay in getting aid to people we may now have to re-evaluate how we transport that aid," said Michael Annear, the IFRC's disaster manager in Yangon, who described the sinking as "a big blow."

Heavy showers were forecast for the week, further complicating delivery of aid that is barely reaching victims in the Irrawaddy delta, which was pounded by 120 mph winds and 12-foot-high storm surges.

On Sunday, Myanmar's state television said the death toll from Cyclone Nargis had gone up by about 5,000 to 28,458 - with 33,416 missing - though some experts said it could be 15 times that if people do not get clean water and sanitation soon.

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