Today David Miliband, British Foreign Secretary, addressed Parliament on the unfolding humanitarian crisis after a cyclone hit Myanmar [1] (Burma) last week, accusing the military junta that holds power in the country of neglect in hampering attempts by international aide organizations to provide relief for thousands of people left stranded without food or water.

Miliband stated his anger "that any government could show such a callous disregard for its responsibility toward its citizens." He added that Great Britain was considering the possibility of aide air drops to areas most in need if the Myanmar junta did not "stand up for its responsibilities."

Great Britain, along with a host of other countries, has pledged resources toward the relief effort, including a cargo plane flying in materials to shelter 43,000 families. The UN estimates that only 1/5 of the victims of the cyclone have received any aide [2] as estimates for the death-toll top 32,000.

Even more alarming are reports that the Myanmar junta may be hoarding incoming food aide [3] for sale on the black market as it provides rotting rice and low-quality biscuits to victims of the natural disaster.

Burma/Myanmar is one of the Areas of Concern [4] monitored by the Genocide Intervention Network. For more background information on this conflict, please visit our Burma section [5].