Date: May 11, 2008

Statement on Relief and Recovery Efforts for the Victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma

We are members of various overseas Burmese organizations and we are gravely concerned at the growing humanitarian crisis in Burma, as a result of Cyclone Nargis and its aftermath. This is a massive human catastrophe and it is getting more and more desperate day by day. The international community and the United Nations have pledged their support and commitment to assist with the relief and recovery efforts in Burma, but Burma’s State Peace and Development Council has been reluctant to allow aid workers into the country.

We urge to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to fully cooperate with the international community and the United Nations to allow foreign aid, including disaster relief teams and personnel, to enter into Burma. This is not the time to play political games at the expense of hundreds of thousands of peoples’ lives. Foreign naval ships are waiting in waters nearby Burma to provide food and supplies and help with the relief efforts. Burma does not have the expertise or capacity to handle such large-scale disasters alone. We need technical assistance. The United Nations, the international community, and relief organizations are offering trained personnel in emergency response who can establish urgently-needed field hospitals and water purification systems quickly and efficiently.

We implore the State Peace and Development Council to work with all nations and agencies that offer assistance to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. This situation is not political and our interests are completely non-partisan. We are simply concerned about health and welfare of the Burmese people, and we understand that no country can respond to such devastation and loss alone.

We are also very concerned that international community will be misled by newspaper headlines prints such as "Aid is getting through in increased amounts", while in fact the junta continues to hold millions of its own people hostage. Thousands of innocent cyclone victims lives will be lost while the junta is playing this cat and mouse game. Now, another storm is coming to Burma. Again, time is running out for those victims.

If the regime continues to ignore our plea, International Governments and the United Nations shall no longer pay any attention to the sham sovereignty of the SPDC, which clearly shows its incompetence to protect its own citizens.

We are calling on all governments and UN bodies to provide aid immediately to our people who are dying in the thousands. This is not the time to respect Burma's border controls. National restrictions that are causing further deaths do not deserve anyone's respect.

Dr. Cynthia Maung ( BMA) Thailand

Tel: 66-55-544495

Win7@loxinfo.co.th

Dr Khin Saw Win (Alice) (BMA) Canada

Alice.khin@ualberta.ca

Tel: 780-4924547/780-9529877

Dr. Zaw Myint (USA)
Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals www.cmpp-burma.blogspot.com

215-632-9040 extension 652
Email- zmyint51@hotmail.com

Dr. Raymond Tint Way (Australia)

Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals www.cmpp-burma.blogspot.com

Mobile 61 0416220208

E mail jostint@hotmail.com