International express operators are standing by to provide logistics services to help geturgently-needed aid to victims of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar. But relief efforts are still
being held up by the country’s refusal to allow in foreign aid workers and the slow arrival of aidsupplies.The World Food Programme (WFP) said it had successfully sent four planes loaded withcritically needed food aid and other relief items to Myanmar. A total of 45 tonnes of high-energybiscuits arrived on three planes at Yangon airport yesterday to be distributed to the hardest-hitregions along the south coast. The WFP had earlier started distributing food stocks that it alreadyhad in the country.
TNT said that its Bangladesh office helped secure space on Thai Cargo flights from Dhaka toYangon for the WFP shipments, and was assisting with logistics for departing flights. It is alsogearing up staff in Bangladesh, India and Thailand to enter Myanmar in support of the WFP, andplans to ship 100 kits of medical supplies from the Netherlands to Myanmar.
TNT, UPS and logistics company Agility, who teamed up to form an emergency responsepartnership earlier this year, all have staff and equipment on standby ready to assist in Myanmar.UPS is currently supporting the Red Cross with domestic transport in Thailand.
US-based charity Operation Blessing International said that DHL and other partners werestanding by to fly water purification system, medicines and other supplies into Myanmar as soon asofficial permission was granted. DHL has set up Disaster Response Teams around the world to providelogistics support for major catastrophes.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and international governments today stepped up their calls onMyanmar to allow in more foreign aid workers to ensure that supplies can be rapidly transported tothe country and distributed to victims. The WFP said it has not been allowed to send staff tooversee relief aid distribution.
Cyclone Nargis killed at least 22,000 people and a further 40,000 are still missing. Theaffected population is threatened above all by a lack of clean water and insufficient food rations.Moreover, heavy rain has been forecast for the next few days.
