Rep. says Myanmar should allow relief into country

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher called on the government of Myanmar to allow international humanitarian relief into the country Friday in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Nargis.

“The civilized world cannot sit idly by and permit disease and hunger to spread among those who have been devastated by the cyclone and suffer because the Burmese generals only care about themselves,” Rohrabacher said in a written statement.

Rohrabacher also called on the Bush administration to draw up plans to air drop supplies by working with nongovernmental organizations trying to provide aid.

The military junta that runs Myanmar has allowed planes carrying food and supplies for cyclone victims, but refused to let most foreign aid workers distribute the cargo Friday, according to the Associated Press.

— Brianna Bailey