UN Helicopters Fan out Across the Irrawaddy Delta

Four extra UN helicopters arrived in Burma from Bangkok over the weekend and flew their first flights over the worst hit areas of the delta on Monday. Previously the WFP had just one helicopter servicing the entire delta region. It now has a total of five operational and is expecting another four to arrive later this week. The helicopters are crucial in being able to deliver heavy equipment such as water purifiers to survivors. WFP spokesman Paul Risley said that the helicopters were able to reach four outlying villages that had not been previously reached by regular assistance.

From: The Irrawaddy
http://irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=12607

Delta Farmers Face Uncertain Future

Farmers of rice in Pyapon in the Irrwaddy delta are increasingly concerned about the fate of this year’s rice growing season. Most farmers are facing a twofold problem. On the one hand they are concerned about the lack of food, shelter and water needed for their immediate survival. On the other hand they are increasingly worried about getting seeds and equipment in time for the planting to begin. Without these essential items, they will not be able to grow a crop this year and this would inevitably create a food shortage in the medium term. Thus far the government has made lists of damaged or destroyed farming equipment, but the farmers have seen no moves to replace the old machinery.

From: Mizzima
http://www.mizzima.com/nargis-impact/18-nargis-impact/644-relief-materials-found-in-township-pdc-watchmans-home

Relief materials found in Township PDC watchman's home

Police have raided the home of Ko Aye Hlaing, the watchman of the PDC office of Khayan. Suspicions were aroused when 1.7 million kyat went missing from the office. The police later found relief material meant for Nargis survivors in the house of the public servant, including mosquito nets, torches, and waterproof matches. The missing cash was a part of the fund collected by the Township PDC authorities in order to help cyclone victims.

From: Associated Press
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/06/09/associated-press-red-cross-myanmar-dead-may-never-be-identified

Red Cross: Myanmar dead may never be identified

The ICRC says that thousands of victims of cyclone Nargis may never be identified. The task of identifying victims has been overwhelmed by the need to focus on saving the lives of survivors. In the meantime, many bodies have been washed far away from their original locations and are now in advanced stages of decay. The ICRC said they initially held as many cremations as possible, but the task is enormous. Bodies washing up on shore lines have been buried in mass graves without proper identification. The CIRC has begun distributing kits for volunteers including body bags, and forms for listing where bodies are buried and identification information.

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