Irish relief effort to airlift stock of supplies from Italian depot

BURMA:EMERGENCY AID provided by the Government will be airlifted to Burma and members of the Irish Rapid Response Corps may also be dispatched to the crisis zone, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said yesterday.

The Minister said the aid, stored at a depot in Brindisi, Italy, was part of an emergency airlift facilitated by the Italian government: "Already some of our stock of relief goods housed in the UN depot at Brindisi have been sent to the area . . . In addition, the Government's Rapid Response Corps is on standby ready to assist the international effort."

The department has said it would initially make up to €1 million available for disaster relief.

Irish aid agencies launched appeals for funds to help survivors, as concerns were raised over the ruling regime's restrictions on international agencies.

"The ruling junta places severe restrictions on the UN and international aid agencies delivering humanitarian assistance," chairperson of Burma Action Ireland Eileen Seymour said. "We are anxious that the regime will react lethargically and will not facilitate the prompt delivery of aid to those who need it."

She urged Ireland to continue putting pressure on surrounding countries to allow aid agencies in.

A member of Trócaire's staff is due to arrive in Burma today to begin an assessment of the situation. While other agencies are facing major difficulties getting in, Trócaire has been working there since 1995 and its staff visit regularly, Maurice McQuillan, the NGO's emergency manager said.

The Irish Red Cross also launched an appeal to help its local workers who have been on the ground since shortly after the storm. "This is the worst cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people died in Bangladesh and it is the worst to hit Myanmar since 1926, when 2,700 people were killed," David Andrews, the group's chairman, said.

Concern does not work directly in Burma but it has also launched an appeal and will be channelling funds through partner organisations.

Labour Foreign Affairs spokesperson Michael D Higgins called on the Government to spearhead an international initiative to set up a monitoring group to ensure the aid is delivered to necessary areas. "We need a mechanism to move past the generals' regime as they may seek to use the tragic events for their own purpose," he said.

Mr Higgins also expressed concern the military junta is to proceed with a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday.