[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 77 (Monday, May 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TRAGEDY IN BURMA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, over the past several days, we have seen a 
terrible tragedy unfold in Burma. The official death toll from that 
cyclone is unknown. But we know the number is in the tens of thousands. 
We have tens of thousands missing.
  International aid organizations fear we are still in the beginning 
stages of this catastrophe. It is estimated that more than a million 
and a half people remain in desperate need of help. They are becoming 
more desperate every day.
  Without international aid and expertise, many of these men, women, 
and children will likely lose their lives to starvation, dehydration, 
and disease--cholera, typhoid are two among them.
  The relationship between the Burmese regime and the global community 
is complicated, and that is an understatement. In this hour of 
staggering desperation, the junta must put politics aside and accept 
the outstretched hand the world is extending to them.
  Burma is a government run by dictators. They are nondemocratic. We 
have had problems with them for years. Senator McConnell has spoken on 
this floor over the years focusing attention on the nondemocratic 
process in Burma and how the international community should join the 
United States in doing something about this.
  Today, finally, one American plane was allowed to land in the 
country--one. This is a start, but it is far few too many loads of 
supplies. Not only are the supplies having difficulty getting in, but 
the military folks in Burma are not allowing the international 
community to help, and they are the ones who have the expertise.
  Each day that goes by is a sad day in that country. We have seen the 
pictures over the weekend of the children lying dead, having died from 
typhoid.
  The junta must allow more supplies, provide visas to aid workers from 
around the world, and allow those workers access to regions and 
communities that are suffering very much.
  Senator McConnell and I join together to say to the junta: Let the 
world in. Let us help.

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