Another nation is underwater, and with the rising waters come rising statistics of the dead. The most recent radio reports out of Myanmar following weekend cyclone Nargis, puts the number of dead over 22,000 and the number of missing over 41,000. Those who have survived need food, potable water, shelter, and a way to bring their lives back together.

How can we help? Myanmar Relief has out up a list of relief organizations that people can donate to (we make no endorsement of any of the organizations).

As always, there is a political angle to the impact of the cyclone. The mainstream media reports a that a military backed junta is running the nation and that the junta has a referendum on a military-backed constitution planned. That referendum will be delayed until May 24 in 40 of 45 townships in the Yangon area (the biggest city), and seven in the Irrawaddy delta, which took the brunt of the weekend storm.
Balloting would proceed in other areas as scheduled.

The United States, who currently has placed economic sanctions on Myanmar, said that they were ready to offer aid but only if they were officially invited to do so. Irony of all ironies, U.S. first lady Laura Bush criticized the government of Myanmar for failing to adequately warn it’s citizens about the storm (one word for you: Katrina).

Via / Yahoo!, Suburban Guerrilla, Myanmar Relief

Image Via / Yahoo!