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Burma aid increasing as casualties rise
13 April, 2008
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his "immense frustration" at Burma's slow response to the cyclone.
The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has said he is immensely frustrated at what he called the unacceptably slow delivery of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.
Mr Ban also warned that an outbreak of infectious diseases could dwarf the current crisis, unless more aid got into the country very quickly.
snip
bbc.co.uk
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Aid for cyclone victims sold in Rangoon Reporting by DVB May 12, 2008 (DVB)–Noodle packets, cans of condensed milk and mosquito nets intended for Cyclone Nargis victims are being sold openly in the streets and markets of Rangoon, a local resident told DVB. The Rangoon resident said people had been surprised to see provisions designated for flood victims being sold in the shops. "I saw dry noodle packets, condensed milk tins and mosquito nets from rescue efforts in downtown. They are selling noodle packets at Nyaungpinlay Market for 600 [kyat] a packet, and tins of condensed milk too," the resident said. snip The resident said there had been no assistance from the authorities so locals had to tackle the problem themselves. "Local people have to come and cleared [the roads] and the water is gone again now," he said. "We are doing things on our own initiative. No one is coming to help us."
english.dvb.no
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Seven residents arrested
Mon 12 May 2008
Mon Son, Rai Maraoh
Seven residents of Mudon Township, Mon State were arrested by the police while the Burmese military junta was holding the referendum on Saturday.
Seven people hurled stones at a car carrying junta officials when it was going around Mudon Township, Mon State telling people to vote "Yes", said Nai Htwe, a Mudon resident.
Nai Htwe said that "People hated the sight of the authorities in the car; therefore they throw stones. Now they are under detention."
snip NMSP will not recognize constitutional referendum
Mon 12 May 2008
By Loa Htaw, IMNA
The Burmese ethnic ceasefire group the New Mon State Party (NMSP) will not recognize the government's constitutional referendum which was neither free nor fair, said the NMSP a day after the junta held the referendum.
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monnews-imna.com
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QUOTE OF THE DAY 
If the intransigence of the Burmese generals continues, it is a very real issue whether in the name of humanity some international action should be taken against their will—like military air drops, or supplies being landed from ships offshore—to get aid to the huge numbers who desperately need it right now.
—Gareth Evans, president of International Crisis Group
irrawaddy.org
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Zarganar discusses film industry support for cyclone victims 
daylife.com
May 12, 2008 (DVB)-High-profile comedian Zarganar and other celebrities have been reaching out to people affected by the recent cyclone with donations of food, medicines and other basic supplies.
Zarganar spoke to
DVB yesterday about the film industry's efforts to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis in Rangoon.
DVB: Could you explain how artists are helping the storm victims?
"First we got together all our friends from the film world. We wanted help to reach out to the people [but] we had difficulties getting rice, medicines, salt…. As we all wanted to get these things to the people, we wanted to do whatever we could. So Lu Min, Lwin Moe, Nay Toe, Eindra Kyaw Zin and May Than Nu all participated. Gradually we are getting there. Wai Lut Kyaw has been distributing it with his own car. He went to Koonchangone, Dala, Twante, Bogalay, Laputa…As we get to know each other gradually, people are becoming united. People who can afford it give rice, medicines and so on … a medical company came to give dermatological medicines. Film people are gathered on 35th Street [in Rangoon], the donation centre. Meanwhile, day labourers in the film community are finding it hard to survive. They only get 2000 to 3000 a day, in Burmese currency. These people have no rice to eat. They have no job. It's stopped. They don't even have the money for transport fares. These people are in trouble and we gave them rice, medicines, oil, rice and clothing this morning."
snip DVB: What is, in your opinion, the best way to give help effectively?
"The best thing to do is what we are doing now. For the time being, I have to say that this is the best way. We are putting it in their hands. We boil rice gruel in big pots, then we add dried fish and oil and feed them. And we also give them clothes, medicines, money, beans and dried fish in a packet, right in their hands…if you do things with artists like us there is less harassment - that's our advantage."
DVB: Is there anything else you want to say?
"The other point to mention is that people who were not affected by the storm and the rains also are donating. I'm collecting things donated by people from Mandalay, and other people throughout the country are also donating."
DVB: What is the official Motion Picture Association doing now?
"As far as I know, they are still painting the ground floor of their office which was flooded."
DVB: Are they helping the victims?
"Heh heh, they have just been painting their office. I haven't seen any of them helping anyone."
DVB: What have you seen the government do to help the victims?
"When we were there we didn't see them do anything except clear the roads. We never saw them giving medicines or food to the people."
DVB: What do you have to say about the referendum?
"As they had already declared, they pushed ahead with it. I have nothing to say about it. We are prioritising our efforts for those who are in trouble here…I don't even want to talk about it."
english.dvb.no
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This type of vintage double decker boats which take 12 hours to reach 150 miles are used by Burmese Government to distribute emergency supply!
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