Claims Burma is missing out on crucial aid due to politics

Updated October 29, 2008 18:02:06

Despite an influx of foreign aid in the aftermath

of the cyclone in May Burma receives

the lowest amount of international aid

in the world. [Reuters]

Aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres says it is concerned international governments have placed a boycott on humanitarian aid to Burma because of their disapproval of the military government.

It says while there has been an influx of foreign aid workers to the region since the cyclone in May, more needs to be done to address health problems such as malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS and malnutrition.

Doctor Frank Smithuis from Medecins Sans Frontieres Holland, based in Burma, has told the Connect Asia Program the nation receives the lowest amount of international aid in the world.

"I don't know who to blame, but I think the world has not paid enough attention to Myanmar and I think the main reason is the political reason," he said.

"It is basically a humanitarian boycott and that is not fair to the Myanmar people."

Doctor Smithuis says there are about 30 international aid agencies working in Burma but the number of aid workers is not enough for a country with a population of 55 million people.

He says Laos and Cambodia have far better access to international aid.