Irrawaddy - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community

Orphaned Burmese children, worst affected by cyclone Nargis

R.M.Paulraj — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:08:51 +0000

Several thousand people in Burma (also called Myanmar) were severely affected as they completely lost their homes and livelihood after Cyclone Nargis devastated the area last May. Complete villages were razed to the ground, and among the...

Study finds arsenic threats in SE Asia

AP — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:59:45 +0000

Myanmar’s cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia’s Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater that could cause cancer and other diseases in residents, according to a new study.Using a digitalized...

38 die as ferry sinks in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta

AP — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:49:45 +0000

A ferry sank in a river in Myanmar’s cyclone-battered Irrawaddy delta, killing nearly 40 people, state-media reported Friday.The motorized ship sank in the Yway river Tuesday after water entered its stern section, the New Light of Myanmar...

Ferry sinking kills 38

AP — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:01:29 +0000

State media say a motorized ferry sank in a river in Myanmar’s cyclone-battered Irrawaddy delta, leaving 38 people dead.The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reports that the ship _ with 82 on board _ went down in the Yway river Tuesday after...

UN says Myanmar farmers need fuel for planting

AP — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:48:41 +0000

Myanmar urgently needs diesel fuel to run the rice-tilling machines that are replacing water buffalo killed by Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy delta, a senior U.N. official said Friday.The call by U.N. Undersecretary-General Noeleen Heyzer, head of...

Myanmar cyclone tourism sector reels after cyclone

AP — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:39:31 +0000

When a taxi carrying two Westerners pulled up this past week at the Shwe Sin hotel in Myanmar’s cyclone-stricken Irrawaddy delta region, cheers rang out from local residents and workers.The two were congratulated for being the first...

Myanmar concedes to access ahead of donor meeting

AP — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:07:05 +0000

Aid agencies geared up Saturday to go into Myanmar’s cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta after the country’s ruling junta vowed to open its doors to help ahead of an international donors meeting.After weeks of stubbornly refusing assistance,...

UN chief tours still-flooded Myanmar delta

AP — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:25:58 +0000

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon flew over Myanmar’s flooded Irrawaddy delta on Thursday, where the ravages of a cyclone stretched as far as the eye could see: Villages were empty of life, flattened huts dissolved into vast areas of water and people...

French navy ship near Myanmar with aid

AP — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:34:20 +0000

A French navy ship carrying 1,000 tons of food idled near Myanmar’s coast Saturday, awaiting permission from the uncooperative ruling military regime to dock in the cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta.The junta took a group of foreign...

US envoy says toll from Myanmar cyclone might reach 100,000

AP — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:10:01 +0000

Hungry people swarmed the few open shops and fistfights broke out over food and water in Myanmar’s swamped Irrawaddy delta Wednesday as a top U.S. diplomat warned that the death toll from a devastating cyclone could top 100,000.The minutes of...