Following international pressure to permit entry of relief supply for the victims of the recent powerful cyclone Nargis, the Burmese junta has finally given green signal to limited regional and UN-co-ordinated aid operation. But at the same time it also will continue denying unhindered access to the Western powers into its worst hit areas.

 

This nod from the Burmese authority comes two weeks after Nargis hit the country killing an estimated 100,000 people and rendering thousands others homeless. The Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown, who was engaged in deliberations with ministers in Burma and other aid agencies, defended the compromise agreement for providing relief supply to Burmese people. He said that this was the best possible alternative available before them at this juncture.

 

On the other hand the longer the Burmese junta refuses outside help, the tougher it will be for the two millions victims of Nargis in the Irrawaddy delta who are threatened with disease and starvation. Lord Malloch-Brown agreed that the relief operation in Burma is small and slow-paced, but added that this middle path involving Asean in collaboration with China and India was best way to end the two week stand off by Burma.