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The Nobel Women's Initiative is deeply concerned with the growing humanitarian crisis in Burma and condemns actions that prevent aid from being distributed to victims of cyclone Nargis. The Nobel Women's Initiative appeals to world leaders, particularly permanent members of the UN Security Council, to use their capacity to ensure adequate humanitarian aid is delivered to Burma without any further delay.
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The refusal of the Burmese military regime to accept full, adequate, humanitarian aid from the international community is nothing short of criminal, and unprecedented in recent history....We must wait no longer for permission from China and Burma's military regime. The time to save 1.5 million lives is now.
Nobel Laureates Appeal, 15 May 2008
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Tropical cyclone Nargis made landfall on 2 May 2008 causing catastrophic destruction along the heavily populated Irrawaddy delta of Burma. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates between 68,833 and 127,990 people have died and approximately 2.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone and its aftermath. Burma's military junta has blocked aid efforts and refused the majority of international assistance altogether. Rescuers and aid workers have not been able to provide life saving assistance to thousands of cyclone survivors. "Our biggest fear is that the aftermath could be more lethal than the storm itself," said Caryl Stern, head of the U.N. Children's Fund.
Despite outcry from the international community, diplomatic efforts to call a meeting of the United Nations Security Council failed last week, with China - which has close ties with its small Burmese neighbor- warning against politicizing the crisis.
Diplomatic efforts have not delivered the results needed to save lives, said Mark Farmaner. We have to face up to reality. Every day of delay is costing lives.
Thirteen days after cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy delta, seven Nobel Laureates wrote an appeal to the Presidents of France and the United States, as well as the British Prime Minister to respond urgently to this humanitarian crisis.
Learn how you can take action to support cyclone Nargis relief efforts in Burma.
NOBEL LAUREATES' APPEAL
The following letter from the office of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, signed by seven Nobel Peace Laureates, was sent to President George W Bush, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Gordon Brown after repeated attempts for humanitarian aid was refused by the military junta in Burma.
From the Desk of The Most Reverend Desmond M Tutu
15h May 2008
A letter to:
President George W Bush
President Nicolas Sarkozy
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Your Excellencies,
We appeal to you to immediately use your capacity as members of the Security Council to send humanitarian aid to Burma.The effect of the cyclone on the Burmese people has been devastating. Perhaps 200,000 are dead and 1.5 million more face imminent death from thirst, hunger, and disease.
The refusal of the Burmese military regime to accept full, adequate, humanitarian aid from the international community is nothing short of criminal, and unprecedented in recent history. By refusing aid, the Burmese regime has effectively declared war on its own population and is committing crimes against humanity.
The solution to this problem lies in the United Nations Security Council authorizing immediate shipments of aid to Burma over the objections of the military regime. However, China, Russia and others have paralysed the Council. As a result, the world is making the same mistake it made on Rwanda, accepting solutions that were guaranteed to fail.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds of food - helicopters, ships and amphibious vehicles lie ready, waiting, off Burma's shores while the Burmese people die.
There is no time to wait. Thirteen full days after the cyclone, it is clear that the Burmese military regime will not accept humanitarian aid.
The UK, United States, and France have the capacity to respond immediately. Please use your ships, helicopters,and all other tools within your capacity to immediately deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Burma. We must wait no longer for permission from China and Burma's military regime. The time to save 1.5 million lives is now.
God bless you
Desmond M Tutu Archbishop Emeritus, Nobel Peace Laureate 1984
co-signed by:
Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate 2003
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Laureate 1980
Sally Milne for Pugwash, Nobel Peace Laureate 1995
H.E. President Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate 1996
Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate 1977
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate 1997
cc: Ban ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations
Chancellor Angela Merkel
To download the letter click here.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Burma's Desperate Hour, The Nation, 15 May 2008
Public health threats immense, warns Red Cross Red Crescent aid worker, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 15 May 2008
Burma: Donor States Must Monitor Aid, Human Rights Watch, 14 May 2008
Women and children make up more than half of the victims in Burma, UNICEF, 5 May 2008
UPDATES
Burma to "let in all aid workers", BBC News, 23 May 2008
Will Burma keep its word on aid? BBC News, 23 May 2008
Aid Agencies Careful Not to Push Myanmar too Hard, NPR, 23 May 2008
Junta Agreement Opens Door, Reuters, 23 May 2008
Read the latest News on Burma.
Read about Burma's political history and repression at the hands of the military regime at our Burma Issue page.
Take Action to Support Relief Efforts in Burma.
Take Action for Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.
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