Concerns Burma's military junta will not allow aid money to reach cyclone victims should not prevent Canadians from donating to the cause, aid agencies say.
There were still questions yesterday about whether Burma would allow outside agencies into the country. Many groups, along with disaster-assessment teams from the United Nations and United States, are still waiting for approval. They include Canadian police officers and paramedics who are expected to reach Thailand today, but have not yet secured entry visas for Burma.
"It's a tragedy when politics prevents humanitarian efforts," said Rahul Singh, director of GlobalMedic, which is hoping to send a team of five aid workers to Burma.
Paul Dewar, the New Democratic Party's foreign affairs critic, applauded the Canadian government for committing $2-million to reconstruction efforts. But he also expressed concern that Burma's military rulers could try to turn the crisis to their advantage by controlling where aid workers or goods are allocated.
"We need to ensure that the aid, be it government aid or aid that comes from [non-governmental organizations] that is going to help the people of Burma, actually gets to the people of Burma and that there isn't interference from the junta," he said yesterday.
If there is interference, Canada and the international community need to be "very assertive" in ensuring humanitarian aid gets to the people who need it most, he added.
"People, when they see these kinds of events happen, quite rightly are generous. Governments should be generous, people should be generous and we should make sure that the aid gets to the people who need it on the ground, and that it's not tied up in either administration or sidelined by other agendas."
Brian John, a Burma specialist at Amnesty International Canada, said doubts that aid will reach victims are "quite credible."
"There is so much obvious corruption in the government and there has been for decades," he said.
The government has restricted humanitarian agencies operating in Burma in the past, he added.
"Humanitarian aid is absolutely essential at this time," Mr. John stressed. "The qualifier must be that humanitarian agencies must seek to ensure that the aid reaches the people in need."
Several agencies, including World Vision, CARE and UNICEF, already had staff in Burma when the cyclone hit. All are appealing to Canadians for financial assistance.
"We certainly understand people's concerns," said Dave Toycen, World Vision Canada's president.
"At World Vision -- and I think this would be true of most non-governmental organizations -- we monitor the aid that we receive. We don't give it to the government.
"Obviously, in Myanmar, we've got to co-operate with the government. They have to know what we're doing, but we're monitoring it, and it's under our control. I feel very confident that if people contribute to us, the aid that we give will get to the people at the grassroots who are suffering as a result of this disaster."
Various Canadian aid agencies have been assured that Burma will grant their staff entry visas and airplanes carrying supplies will be allowed to land without restrictions or additional fees.
"We're certainly being hopeful," Mr. Toycen said.
"The government has said it wants this, and we're taking them at their word."
Ottawa will give cash to groups working with the Canadian International Development Agency that have the "operational capacity" to meet humanitarian needs in Burma.
Late last year, Canada introduced stricter economic sanctions against Burma after the military regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters. These included a ban on exports to Burma, except for humanitarian goods.
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