Things look bad in Myanmar

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/05/myanmar.cyclone/index.html

snip

YANGON, Myanmar (CNN) -- The death toll from the Myanmar cyclone is more than 15,000 people, Myanmar's government has said, with at least 10,000 killed in the township of Bogalay alone, according to the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.

Survivors were facing their third night without electricity in the aftermath of the historic cyclone that also clogged roads with thousands of downed trees.

Diplomats were summoned to a government briefing Monday as the reclusive southeast Asian country's ruling military junta issued a rare appeal for international assistance in the face of an escalating humanitarian crisis.

A state of emergency was declared across much of the country following the 10-hour storm that left swathes of destruction in its wake.

The death toll of more than 15,000, official sources told Xinhua, makes the weekend cyclone the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recent history, according to figures compiled by a U.N.-funded disaster database.

The toll eclipses that from a 1926 wind storm the killed about 2,700 people in the country, according to the database.

The government of neighboring Thailand said Myanmar's leaders had already requested food, medical supplies and construction equipment, AP reported. The first plane-load of supplies was due to arrive Tuesday, a Thai spokesman said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement he was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and the destruction suffered by the people of Myanmar" and pledged to mobilize international aid and assistance as needed.

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Prayers for all who are lost and suffering.

Speaking of prayers, I wonder if the marching protesting Buddhist monks who are very political also have retained their rural life knowledge and have a rescue ethic and volunteer skills. Like the Christians do, ministering and rolling up sleeves during disaster ... I'm just curious if the monks get involved like the Christian evangelizers do, whether for their own people (like during hurricane Katrina) or in foreign lands. Hope so!!

Update: Answer to my question. The monks are apparently free to help, and this article mentions them helping as the people struggle with fallen trees, without tools or government help thus far. An isolationist regime runs into deep trouble sooner or later.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5greyFH3qkj9mc9oagSoulgjN4KHgD90FTIFO5