First Batch Of Supplies Airlifted To Myanmar From U.S.

Yangon, Myanmar (AHN) - After a long negotiation with the isolationist military rulers of Myanmar, the first U.S. aid was airlifted to the capital Yangon on Monday after taking off from an airbase in Thailand.

The U.S. aid flight came nine days since the devastating cyclone which Myanmar officials say killed over 29,000 but international rescuers said the death toll could reach over 100,000. Intense talks with the Burmese military rulers finally allowed Washington to send aids to millions of Burmese affected by the cyclone.

Myanmar's military rulers consider the U.S. as their enemy.

The U.S. military's unarmed C-130 cargo plane, loaded with supplies, took off from the Thai air force base in Utapao to fly Yangon to deliver much needed aid. Two more shipments were expected to be air lifted on Tuesday.

International rescue missions pleaded to the military rulers of the impoverished nation to cooperate with donors across the globe to give them access to the estimated two million people affected by the May 3 cyclone. The appeal was echoed by the U.N. which described the situation in the region as turning into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Many have expressed fear the amount of aid reaching the affected were vastly inadequate because of the magnanimity of the disaster.

Aid workers put the number of dead to over 100,000 and said the figure could further increase because at least 1.5 million people still lack access to clean water, sanitation and food.

The United Nations has started an appeal for at least $187 million in aid to help the devastated Burmese people. Reports reaching from the field said thousands of survivors were suffering from dehydration and other injuries that have not been treated.