$1m in aid to be given to Burma, china

The Cabinet yesterday gave the green light for US$1 million (Bt32 million) to be given to disaster victims in Burma and China, while Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will today fly to Burma to help facilitate humanitarian aid from western countries.

Burma and China will receive $500,000 each, said Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama. The Foreign Ministry had earlier given $100,000 to Burma for primary assistance. The country needed additional aid since the death toll had sharply increased to tens of thousands, Noppadon said.

Burmese authorities said more than 31,000 were dead while 29,000 were missing. The United Nations estimated the death toll might reach 100,000.

"We need to help China too, but not as much since China is a big country that has the ability to handle the situation," he said.

Samak cancelled his trip to China scheduled for May 15-17 after the huge earthquake rocked the southwestern province of Sichuan, killing more than 10,000 people.

More than 100 Thai people in the province are safe, Noppadon said. The Thai Consulate Office in Chengdu will help those who want to return home.

Samak yesterday sent a message of condolence to the Chinese government and the families of the victims.

The prime minister will today fly to Naypyidaw to ask the junta leaders to allow humanitarian aid workers into Burma. Humanitarian assistance from the UN and the United States has begun to flow into the devastated areas in the Irrawaddy delta, but the junta has refused to allow any foreign aid workers to help distribute the relief.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon phoned Samak asking him to use his influence over the junta to open up the secretive country to more international relief.

"We want to facilitate all parties who want to help Burma, but as a neighbour we cannot put any pressure on the Burmese leaders," Noppadon said.