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Burmese leaders 'turning a deaf ear' to cyclone victims



« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryTHE most senior members of Burma's military government were today accused of turning a "deaf ear" to the plight of hundreds of thousands of victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown said the chairman of Burma's ruling junta, General Than Shwe, seemed not to be heeding warnings about the seriousness of the crisis.

The United Nations says disease, hunger and thirst could cause a "second catastrophe" on a greater scale than the storm itself.

Some 23 aid flights have arrived in Burma so far since Nargis struck almost two weeks ago - about the number which must get through every day if the estimated 1.5 million survivors of the storm are to receive the help they need - said Lord Malloch-Brown.

The Asia minister is in Burma's neighbour Thailand for talks on the crisis and was to speak to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej today, who has been in direct contact with the junta's leading figures.

Lord Malloch-Brown said: "From the top level of government there is a sense that there is a complete deaf ear, that Than Shwe is not hearing the seriousness of the crisis and the regime has set its back against the need to accept outside help."

Every year, more than 13,000 babies in the U.S. are born deaf or with severely limited hearing. A generation ago, doctors would use cochlear implants to help patients hear better - but only if they were 18 years or older. But that's all changing. Now, some doctors say the sooner kids have the surgery, the better.

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This is the dance, The Mambo. Her final week.

Woman reaches Pole in deaf trek

Wendy Kidd was one of the hearing members of the team

A Belfast woman has reached the North Pole as part of the first team of deaf people to make the gruelling trek.

Wendy Kidd was part of the team of five hearing and deaf people who travelled on skis, across drifting sea ice and wilderness towing 40 kgs of equipment.

"We're really excited to have reached the North Pole, and to be with the first deaf people to do it.

"We had a hair-raising journey as there was a very strong westerly drift," said Wendy, a hearing member of the team.

"The wind was blowing as fast as we could walk so we were concerned that if we didn't make it that day, we wouldn't make it at all. We celebrated in our tents with hot drinks."

The team made a surface crossing of the Arctic Ocean between latitude 89N and the Geographic North Pole at 90N known as 'The Last Degree'.

Each participant raised £27,000 for the National Deaf Children's Society.

Part 3 - scoring

Marlee Matlin on Dancing with the Stars-Week 5, pt 3