Burmese situation still dire; hundreds of thousands jobless, homeless

One year after devastating Cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar last May 2 killing nearly 140,000 and leaving 800,00 homeless, hundreds of thousands still have no jobs or housing. The situation is particularly urgent given the monsoon season ahead. Immediately after the cyclone the international community donated $315 million for food and assistance, initially blocked by the miliary junta that rules the country. International organizations say that hundreds of millions more in funding is still needed for infrastructure projects. So far the Tripartite Core Group, comprised of the Myanmar government, the UN, and ASEAN, have estimated the country still needs another $700 million. New issues have arisen as the military junta is beginning to make it hard once again for foreign aid groups to remain in the country and for new relief workers to get visas.

Nargis survivors burdened by debt , The Irrawaddy
Burma still recovering from Cyclone Nargis , Voice of America
Will Nargis make it easier for aid groups to work in Myanmar?, Reuters AlertNet