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Unofficial "aid smugglers" could threaten the international relief effort in Myanmar, says a New Zealand aid expert.
Small independent relief organisations are claiming breakthroughs in getting aid and personnel to help cyclone victims in Myanmar amid mounting international criticism of the ruling junta for restricting foreign aid.
Children on the Edge, a group which describes itself as "virtually unknown in New Zealand", and Partners Relief and Development (Prad), an independent New Zealand aid organisation, say they have been able to bypass Myanmar's military rulers by working with local organisations to get aid into the worst-affected areas.
"It's not official, as we don't go through Myanmar's generals, and it is a huge risk," said Children on the Edge's national manager, Shelly Mansfield. "But it is a risk that the Burmese people and organisations we work with are prepared to take."
Its operations remain a secret and information on the location or identities of workers cannot be given out "for the safety of the teams and the people inside".
She said the organisation used a network of local workers to smuggle aid across the Thai border to remote areas not getting any other help.
Prad, a Thai-based NZ organisation, said on Sunday that "after working with the people of Burma for over 10 years, we have been able to use our network of contacts and co-workers throughout the country to reach areas most affected by the cyclone."
Both organisations are appealing for donations. But aid expert Andrew McGregor says he wouldn't give any money to these groups.
"I have a slight problem with groups that are doing things underhand, because if they get caught it would hamper the other aid efforts of the more transparent ones," said Dr McGregor, of Otago University.
"The military rulers could react badly, and it would add to the suspicions they have of the West and lead to problems for other groups."
He said the sensible thing to do would be to stick to international aid agencies such as Unicef and Red Cross.
"They have representatives who can negotiate with the military government at the top level, and workers working with victims on the ground."
Relief materials from around the world are starting to reach Myanmar's desperate cyclone survivors.
Aircraft laden with aid supplies from the Red Cross, Thailand, Greece, Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan touched down at Yangon Airport on Sunday and the United States launched its first relief airlift yesterday after prolonged negotiations with the junta.
But foreign relief workers are still finding it hard to get past checkpoints into the worst-hit areas.
Those who have been allowed into the country have been kept in Yangon.
Myanmar's rulers say the best way to help is to send aid material rather than personnel, but international aid organisations such as Oxfam say relief officials and experts are needed to prevent more deaths from disease.
"Aid is certainly getting through, but the problem is there is not enough and it is taking too long," said Oxfam NZ spokeswoman Prue Smith.
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