• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

SNAPSHOT-Latest developments after Myanmar cyclone

Mon May 5, 2008 11:17am EDT
May 5 (Reuters) - Here are the latest developments on Monday following Saturday's devastating Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

HEADLINES

- The military government has a provisional death toll of 10,000, a diplomat says after a briefing from Foreign Minister Nyan Win. Another 3,000 are missing.

- U.N. says Myanmar accepts international aid offers, shipments being prepared at once. U.N. says hundreds of thousands of people are without shelter and drinking water.

- Soldiers and police kill 36 prisoners after riot at Yangon's notorious Insein prison in chaos following cyclone, Thailand-based human rights group says.

- Cyclone was a Category 3 storm, with winds of 190 kph (120 mph).

- Junta leaders say they will go ahead with May 10 referendum on a new army-drafted constitution that critics say will entrench the military.

QUOTES

"The basic message was that they believe the provisional death toll was about 10,000 with 3,000 missing," a diplomat tells Reuters in Bangkok after a briefing from Foreign Minister Nyan Win.

"Last time, they came here, just like ants, from where I don't know." - Yangon resident, comparing the reaction of security forces when they cracked down last September on Buddhist monk-led protests against the military junta. "Now I can't see any -- no army, no police."

"The lights went out, we have no water." - local trader, washing in a lake in Yangon. "The storm destroyed so much, I have to take a bath here."

"We know that it's several hundred thousand needing shelter and clean drinking water, but how many hundred thousand we just don't know." - Richard Horsey, U.N. disaster response office.

"The government indicated willingness to accept international assistance through the U.N. agencies. I'd say it was a careful green light. The U.N. will begin preparing assistance now to be delivered and transported to Myanmar as quickly as possible." - World Food Programme spokesman Paul Risley.

NEWS > Myanmar believes at least 10,000 dead in cyclone [nBKK190667] > Blackouts, shortages plague Myanmar city [nBKK188960] > States, aid agencies offer to help storm-hit Myanma[nSP220346] > Rights group says 36 dead after prison riot

[nBKK187023] > Myanmar junta criticised for proceeding with vote [nSP184797] > Aid agencies struggle to assess Myanmar cyclone dam[nSP133167] > Key facts about Myanmar

[nSP183492]

(World Desk, Singapore +65-6870-3814)



More from Reuters

Photo

Fox, Time Warner Cable ink temp deal to avoid blackout

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Cable and News Corp's Fox Networks agreed to a brief extension of their current carriage contract on Thursday to avoid a blackout that would have prevented 13 million U.S. homes from seeing TV shows like "The Simpsons" and college and NFL football games.

A customer is served at a counter inside a foreign exchange store displaying a poster of various banknotes including the Chinese yuan or renminbi (RMB) in Hong Kong November 20, 2009. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
OUTLOOK 2010:

Be careful what you wish for

Pressure on China to loosen its grip on the yuan will continue but the U.S. should tread carefully. Here are five world market issues to watch.  Full Article 

Clients work out on machines at the Bally Total Fitness facility in Arvada, Colorado June 15, 2009.  REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Get real with resolutions

We make them and we break them: The secret to keeping them is to avoid the impossible dream.  Full Article