Good morning everyone. Hurricaneville continues to follow the developing situation in Southeast Asia in the aftermath of a powerful cyclone that ripped through the extreme southern portion of the Myanmar Republic. As of right now, the death toll still stands at an estimated 22,000 people with another 41,000 still missing. Reports of bodies floating in the flood waters, and others being dumped into the water for mass burial have dominated the latest news from that region of the world.

Now, the latest news reports are stating that the Indian Meteorological Service had warned the military dictatorship in the Myanmar Republic, which is also known as Burma of the impending storm some two days in advance. Furthermore, the government is being criticized for not adequately warning or preparing those in harm’s way. The only warnings that were given were those on television, which is not seen by all in the country, where electricity and the usual comforts enjoyed here in the United States are few and hard to come by.

Yesterday, aid was finally starting to trickle into the country as the military government, which has been in power since 1962, and had recently cracked down on protests and uprisings as recently as this past fall, finally relented and allowed a U.N. plane to deliver essential supplies to the stricken country. However, the junta balked at the idea of having U.N. personnel as well as those from international disaster relief organizations to accompany the supplies. President Bush spoke out on the issue earlier this week, and urged the Myanmar government to let the United States help. Bush’s wife, and First Lady, Laura Bush also spoke out in criticism of the junta’s handling of the situation.

The U.N. has given an early assessment of the situation, and indicates that this is already a major disaster with all the people that are already dead and missing, the widespread damage from this Category Four Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, and the military dictatorships, poor response and handling of the situation from the outset all the way until now well into the aftermath. This situation is becoming more and more similar to that which occurred in what is now Bangladesh in November, 1971.