13 days after cyclone Nargis and relief efforts in the Irrawaddy Delta remain vastly insufficient to aid the survivors. The grim estimates released by the UN today reveal that nearly 2.5 million survivors are facing hunger and disease. Despite the regimes respectable efforts to clean up Rangoon and surrounding areas, there is precious little aid supplies reaching those most in need in the nations south. International journalists who have been able to travel down the Irrawaddy by boat report villages where a fortnight after the disaster there are still no supplies arriving. Survivors await relief in the only building left standing, are without drinking water and have very little rice supplies left.

This disgraceful situation has been made worse by the regime’s desire to take care of the relief effort by themselves, despite having having done a woefully inadequate job thus far. Aid continues to pile up in Rangoon without the adequate logistical capacity to deliver it to those most in need. Further problems are looming for the survivors. This week predicted heavy rains may spoil some aid that has been stockpiled and left undelivered in Rangoon airport. Other natural threats are those of disease from mosquitoes such as malaria and dengue fever along with other threats from contaminated waters sources. Footage released shows the banks of the Irrawaddy lined with corpses that will certainly contaminate what is for many people, the only available water supply.

To compound the natural threats, there are still reports arriving from inside of aid appropriation. Although the UN has set up an investigation into the matter, it seems powerless to actually put a stop to the practice. Villagers have reported having to buy gasoline and drinking water at vastly inflated prices from township authorities.

On top of the disgraceful profiteering of members of the military and municipal authorities, the junta has also begun evicting survivors who have lost their homes from civic buildings, without providing alternatives for them. They have also refused to answer questions as to why these civilians should leave. It is believed that the buildings are being evacuated so they can be used as polling stations for the national referendum. In South Dagon, a female survivor and local NLD member was assaulted and arrested for attempting to contact visiting officials and UN staff to protest the conditions of survivors and the lack of aid being provided to survivors. Other who have raised objections over their impending evictions have been told they face removal by the army and possible prosecution at the hands of the Internal Affairs Ministry. There are reported to be thousands of refugees sheltering monasteries and schools in Wards 55 and 26 of South Dagon.

Residents from Dawpon have undergone similar treatment at the hands of the authorities in this ward. From an original 620 taking shelter in local buildings, only about 52 remain after being threatened with military action. These people, including children have been forced out onto the streets and have received only a tiny amount of relief aid.

In a ridiculous twist, the junta has also begun claiming the national referendum, internationally recognized as a sham, as a total success with a voter turnout of 99 percent and a ’YES’ result of 92.4 percent.

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