It is clear that Burma is suffering a major humanitarian disaster on an unprecedented scale (Panic after the storm - the scramble for survival in Burma, May 6). Millions of the world's poorest people are affected and thousands are dead.
Tragically and unbelievably, five days into the crisis the survivors are still waiting for aid to arrive. They have no food, no clean water and no shelter. Only one Thai plane carrying aid has arrived, yet such is the level of need that by now there should be stockpiles of food and planes and helicopters regularly flying in emergency assistance.
Burma's military regime has said that it will welcome international assistance, but it hasn't said which of its severe restrictions on the movement of humanitarian aid, for instance on visas, it will lift. Indeed, even if aid workers receive visas, they will still need to negotiate leaving Rangoon in order to gain access to the affected area. A general in the military junta remains adamant that aid agencies will need to negotiate access with military officials. Even more seriously, the UN has apparently been told they can only work bilaterally - that is, with the regime's own relief agencies.
It is utterly meaningless for the junta to say they want aid if they won't allow aid agencies to operate freely in the affected areas. It is essential that humanitarian laws on independent and neutral delivery of assistance are enforced, and this is what the UN, the region and the EU must insist on.
Governments must approach neighbouring countries including India, Thailand and China, and apply strong pressure on the military junta. With thousands of lives at risk, now is the time for strong international action. Influence must be brought to bear on this tyrannical regime that continually neglects to care for its people.
Glenys Kinnock MEP, patron, Burma Campaign UK
Conor Foley should have gone further in his piece on Burma, (Amid such carnage, political concerns must come second, May 7). One does not have to be a supporter of the Burmese military to be tired of the media and political moralising over how difficult it is to get into Burma to help those affected by Cyclone Nargis. One didn't hear the same mantra when gaining visas to enter Pakistan to help after its earthquake was as difficult. It would seem that no disaster is so bad that political capital and shallow posturing can't be made from it.
Burma has suffered 20 years of western sanctions; it's hardly surprising that the military Junta is cautious about opening its borders. But Burma has accepted aid. It would help if we stopped moralising over their political system and gave them the aid they need. We should leave it to the likes of Laura Bush to make aid to Burma conditional on political change and stop pimping the plight of the Burmese.
Kirk Leech, London
