Burmese junta seizes UN food aid
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Agencies plead with generals to get access
AP and BANGKOK POST
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Burma's junta seized two planeloads of critical aid sent by the UN yesterday for a multitude of hungry survivors of last week's devastating cyclone, forcing the world body to suspend further help.
''All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated,'' said Paul Risley, a spokesman of the World Food Program (WFP) in Bangkok.
He said the seized aid, including 38 tons of high-energy biscuits, arrived on two flights from Dhaka and Dubai.
''It is being held by the government. We are awaiting resolution of this matter,'' he said.
More than one million people made homeless in last Saturday's cyclone waited for food, shelter and medicine. Many crammed into Buddhist monasteries or camped out in the open.
The WFP's regional director, Tony Banbury, pleaded with the junta to free the shipment.
''Please, this food is going to people who need it very much. You and I, we have the same interests. Those victims who need this assistance are not part of a political dialogue. They need this humanitarian assistance. Please release it,'' Mr Banbury said.
Agencies plead with generals to get access
AP and BANGKOK POST
-->
spac_writeAd( "/SITE=BANGKOKPOST/AREA=NEWS/AAMSZ=300X250PIXELS/POSITION=RIGHT5/METHOD=JSCRIPT" );
Burma's junta seized two planeloads of critical aid sent by the UN yesterday for a multitude of hungry survivors of last week's devastating cyclone, forcing the world body to suspend further help.
''All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated,'' said Paul Risley, a spokesman of the World Food Program (WFP) in Bangkok.
He said the seized aid, including 38 tons of high-energy biscuits, arrived on two flights from Dhaka and Dubai.
''It is being held by the government. We are awaiting resolution of this matter,'' he said.
More than one million people made homeless in last Saturday's cyclone waited for food, shelter and medicine. Many crammed into Buddhist monasteries or camped out in the open.
The WFP's regional director, Tony Banbury, pleaded with the junta to free the shipment.
''Please, this food is going to people who need it very much. You and I, we have the same interests. Those victims who need this assistance are not part of a political dialogue. They need this humanitarian assistance. Please release it,'' Mr Banbury said.
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