Official: 1 shipment to be allowed to Myanmar

Official: 1 shipment to be allowed to Myanmar
By Foster Klug - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 9, 2008 13:53:22 EDT

WASHINGTON — The governing military junta in Myanmar has agreed to allow a single U.S. cargo aircraft to bring in relief supplies for victims of a devastating cycle, Bush administration officials said Friday.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the U.S. welcomed the go-ahead to land a U.S. military C-130 in the country on Monday. He said he hopes this is the beginning of continued aid flowing into the country from the U.S. and other nations and international relief agencies.

Earlier Friday, Ky Luu, director of the U.S. office of foreign disaster assistance, had said that skilled aid workers were being forced to sit on the sidelines as victims of last week’s cyclone die. His comments reflect the mounting frustration among the U.S. and other countries as they wait for permission from the military-led government to begin trying to help.

“We will continue to work with the government of Burma to allow other assistance,” Johndroe said, using the country’s former name. “We hope that this is the beginning of a long line of assistance from the United States to Burma.”

“We are very concerned about the people of Burma,” he added.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_af_myanmar_050908/