Int'l Aid May Soon Reach Cyclone Victims

SelectPlusInt'l Aid May Soon Reach Cyclone VictimsInt'l Aid May Soon Reach Cyclone VictimsThe Associated PressThe U N says more than a million Myanmar cyclone victims will be able to receive their first assistance if the country's military regime quickly allows foreign experts into the affected areas. (May 26)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] MYANMAR SAYS IT'S READY TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL AID FOR CYCLONE VICTIMS - BUT ONLY WITh STRINGS ATTACHED.DONOR NATIONS SAY THEY'RE READY TO PROVIDE 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR RECOVERY - BUT ONLY IF THEY GET UNFETTERED ACCESS TO CYCLONE SURVIVORS.THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY CONFISCATED SOME OF THE HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES SENT TO THE SOUTH ASIAN NATION. [Notes:11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Gordon, Chairman of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:]"What is important now is to facilitate through the ASEAN nations the ability to be able to bring in as much as possible, (in a) fast and efficient way and a focused way in reaching of the suffering community out there especially in the deltas." MYANMAR'S ISOLATIONIST GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL ONLY ALLOW CIVILIAN AID INTO THE COUNTRY IF IT TRAVELS A SPECIFIC ROUTE. BUT U-S-, BRITISH, AND FRENCH WARSHIPS HAVE BEEN LOADED UP WITH HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES AND FLOATING OFF THE THE COAST OF THE DEVASTATED SOUTH ASIAN NATION FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. [Notes:13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Richard Gordon, Chairman of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:] There'll be baby steps, there will be insecurity every step of the way, on the one side the assertion that this is not a political game that we played; that there is political debate (that) must be undertaken, that must be clear to the Myanmar authorities."MYANMAR'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT FEARS FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL POLITICS. BUT THERE ARE 78,000 PEOPLE DEAD; 56,000 PEOPLE MISSING AND 2.4 MILLION SURVIVORS. THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF THE CYCLONE'S DEVASTATION MAY PUSH MYANMAR TO OPEN ITS DOORS. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****) (ANCHOR VOICE:DKepley-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: NHawkins------------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: GVW--------------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: DBruns------------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: ----------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: AP------------------------------------)

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