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MYANMAR : Myanmar's military government continues to face strong criticism from the international community for failing to allow more foreign aid into the Irrawaddy Delta region.
Eight weeks after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, there are also conflicting reports on relief and recovery efforts underway.
Travelling from Yangon to Bogale township, the scale of the devastation is all too evident and too overwhelming to ignore.
Flooded rice fields in the Irrawaddy Delta are inundated with salt water.
There have been appeals for saline resistant seeds, tillers and diesel as the people race against time to ensure that as much rice as possible can be planted in the July planting season.
As soon as their helicopter touched down in Bogale township, ASEAN and UN officials set off to visit a hospital and the State High School No.1.
Amid patched roofs, tiffin and lunch carriers neatly stacked on one side, a maths lesson - one among many - is underway.
Then the officials set off to SetSan village. The village school was totally demolished by the cyclone and 200 children perished. But now, thanks to donations, shelters ensure the children can continue with their education.
However, one nagging question remains : Is this all being staged by the Myanmar authorities as a show piece for the visiting ASEAN journalists?
According to Bishow Parajuli of the United Nations Development Programme, who has been on the ground since mid-May, real progress is evident.
The UN Resident Coordinator and the UN-Designated Official based in Yangon, said: "I have been in this location, this was at least the second time in the last two weeks, and I think this is the natural progress happening.
"And I've also seen that in other locations where I have visited. From complete ruin, people have started building houses. There are lots of inputs and humanitarian support coming from government, UN agencies and international organisations.
"So there are different levels of progress in different locations, but I believe what we saw is a natural progress and efforts is being made. And it was fantastic to see that within two weeks, the children (are) back to school and people (are) building houses.
"It is very heartening, and the courage and resilience of the Myanmar people is well demonstrated in these efforts..."
Dr Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary-General and Chair of the ASEAN Humanitarian Task Force, said: "Certainly, the first impression is very saddened, that the extent of the damage and the depth of the destruction have been very, very far and wide.
"But we are also very encouraged to see them bouncing back very quickly. We have been told that the school building (was) totally demolished. Now, they are studying there in spite of the fact that they have lost 200 of their fellow students.
"... And what we can do is to go out and inform the region, in the case of ASEAN, and I'm sure in the case of the UN, that people deserve help, deserve assistance."
Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Undersecretary-General of the United Nations, and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, said: "This is a village that has lost 300 people, out of which 200 were children. And this is a story of deep suffering but also of real courage.
"Look at the children here today. And we need to support that courage. So we're (working) very closely together with ASEAN, and the whole UN system (is) working as one and with the government, and that's the only way of going forward. Strong partnership, strong bridges of trust, strong support from the outside community".
The operating environment that international and local non-governmental organisations have to work under remains fragile.
But ASEAN and UN officials on the ground, in their daily negotiations with the Myanmar military government, are determined to ensure that all parties put their politics aside and do what is right for the children. - CNA/ms
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