World Food Program To Resume Aid Flights To Myanmar

The World Food Program said that two relief flights will be sent to Myanmar on Saturday, just hours after suspending flights due to "unacceptable restrictions" by the government. "The World Food Program has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow, while discussions continue with the government of Myanmar on the distribution of the food that was flown in today, and not released to WFP," Nancy Roman, WFP director of public policy and communications, said Friday. She added that enough high-energy biscuits to feed 21,000 people, which were airlifted on Thursday, have been delivered over the last 24 hours to some of the worst hit areas. Earlier Friday, the WFP suspended aid flights into Myanmar because of "unacceptable" restrictions imposed by the country's military rulers. "Two flights landed this morning with food, which has not been taken out yet," Myanmar country director Chris Kaye told AFP in Yangon, without specifying why the supplies had not been unloaded. Myanmar has maintained strict limits on foreign involvement in the relief effort, despite calls for it to allow unfettered access to experts whose skills are vital for an effective response. The government said it was not ready to let in foreign aid workers, and although it needed supplies for the survivors of the cyclone, it would handle the distribution itself.
Source: AFP
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