_ by Ethan Bourne

Due to mismanagement of the SPDC generals, Burma’s natural resources are getting sold out to Russia, China, Thailand and the 50 million Burmese people have no right to these natural resources but have to live a poor, unhealthy life style ubiquitously. Millions of Burmese suffer from malnutrition and starvation caused by economic hardships. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese have been fleeing Burma for fear of military persecution, human rights violations, forced relocations and torture.

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Burmese Refugees Fleeing military persecution		AIDS Clinic in Northern Burma

Hospitals are everywhere but there is no supply of medicines at Rangoon General Hospital on Bogyoke Street. According to a physician working there, medicines are nowhere in the storage. Patients have to buy their own medicine from Shwe Boan Tha Street and those patients who cannot afford medicine have nothing but to wait for the day they will die. Maternal and child mortality rates are skyrocketing and infectious diseases like HIV and TB are still uncontrollable diseases. The patients infected with HIV are ignored and forced to die as NGOs taking care of HIV patients are forced to close by the military regime.

Source:CIA

As 80% of the state funds are used to buy arms and ammunitions, healthcare, education and energy for the people are getting worse and worse on a daily basis. When people cannot afford nutritious foods due to lack of income, they have to eat unhealthy, dirty food and get sick. When they get sick, they cannot afford healthcare they need and mortality rate in Burma naturally is higher every year. Deforestation, industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to diseases and the regime is doing nothing to deter these negative effects to the environment. Electricity is available only to the ruling class. Where the common people live, electricity is a word they have read in the newspapers and heard from word of mouth.

Burmese People Protesting Against the SPDC for people’s needs.

Therefore, what should the international community do to influence the Burmese situation? The United Nations must prescribe tougher sanctions against the regime. A new UN envoy must be appointed to have a dialog with the SPDC generals. The NGOs must try and get back into the country to help the needy Burmese in all parts of the nation. The United Nations must urge the SPDC to support existing clinics initiated by the NGOs and let more NGOs come into the country. Only when these measures are taken, basic needs for the people of Burma: healthcare, food and shelter. People inside Burma who live a healthy, easy life should look into the lives of fellow Burmese people and help them in need. Political refugees taking refuge at Thai-Burma border should be well taken care of by supporting Dr. Cynthia Maung’s clinic with monetary contributions and moral support. Politics is who gets what when and how. Politics for the Burmese people should be helping the people in need. Heroes like Ko Htin Kyaw and Phyu Phyu Thin are pioneers whose objectives are to fulfill immediate needs of the Burmese people as far as health and poverty are concerned.