austraLasia #2157

Archbishop of Yangon welcomes announcement that aid workers will be allowed in

YANGON: 25th May 2008 -- The Archbishop of Yangon, Charles Bo sdb, has expressed guarded optimism at the breakthrough by UN chief Ban Ki-Moon with Myanmar authorities to allow all aid workers in.  His statement follows:
    "Three weeks after the devastating Cyclone Nargis struck on 2nd and 3rd May, the people of Myanmar are still struggling to come to terms with the scale of the disaster. For those who survived in the affected Delta and Yangon regions, survival is a day-to-day struggle, with access to clean water, food, shelter and medical attention still limited. In addition to this the severe water-logging, damage to paddy fields, loss of tools, seed and animals will have a negative impact on rice production and food security for this vulnerable population.
    The local response in Myanmar has been hugely important in these initial few weeks, however, resources and capacity have been stretched. Therefore, I welcome the recent announcement that the Government will allow all aid workers into the country. I hope that this announcement is followed through and that international support can build on the local structures and efforts already underway.
    Amidst the stories of despair there is also hope. The people of Myanmar have joined together in their solidarity for those affected by the cyclone. People and leaders of all religions have been working together to try and reach the affected communities and encourage the Government to do all they can to help those in need. The stories I have heard from the people who faced and survived the full force of the cyclone and continue to live with dignity and hope pay tribute to the unwavering nature of the human spirit. The humane acts of courage and kindness of those who have volunteered to assist the people in the delta region, and the international support and solidarity received by the Church in Myanmar, shows further evidence of the generosity of humankind.
    In saying that, there is still a lot to do to relieve the suffering of our people. Contrary to what government reports might be saying, the emergency relief phase is not over. Basic needs of hundreds and thousands of people still need to be met. To date the Catholic Church has reached approximately 25,000 people and provided relief support such as food, shelter, clean drinking water. An important aprt of the Church response is also to provide psychological and spiritual support to communities affected by these recent traumatic events. Children are particularly vulnerable at this time. Many have lost their parents and need support and protection to help them heal. An important aspect of the Churches' response is our ability to reach communities that other organisations and networks cannot currently reach. We are also committed to continuing our support and hope to reach a further 40,000 people with relief and also support communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods over the coming months and years".  
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Title: australasia 2157
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces MYM Archbishop welcomes aid worker permission
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2157