MPs condemn Burma's 'deplorable' cyclone response

The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion on Friday condemning the Burmese government's "deplorable response" to victims of the deadly cyclone that has devastated the country.

The motion comes as Burma's isolationist junta has begun seizing supplies intended for 1.5 million cyclone survivors and continues to refuse to give visas to relief workers looking to help victims.

Humanitarian agencies fear delays in issuing visas to relief workers could push the death toll from last Saturday's cyclone in Burma, also known as Myanmar, above 100,000 as victims run out of safe drinking water and food.

Members of Parliament unanimously agreed to the motion, introduced by House Leader Peter Van Loan, that "denounce[d] the Burmese military regime's deplorable response to the crisis."

The House also condemned the regime's  "unprecedented seizure" of aid shipments and urged the junta to to allow unrestricted access to aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations.

Ottawa has offered its Disaster Assistance Response Team, consisting of about 200 soldiers who are sent to disasters to provide clean drinking water and medical treatment until long-term aid arrives.

Canada has already pledged $2 million for relief efforts, with $500,000 of that going to the Red Cross, but a government official confirmed Thursday that Canada will provide additional funds once the scale of the disaster is assessed.

Phone lines, e-mail not working, says relative 

But as Canada's politicians spoke out, many Burmese-Canadians with relatives in the country are having trouble hearing anything at all.

Khaing Lin moved to Canada with her brother and sister nine years ago, but her parents still live in Burma.

Calling her hometown has become a daily ritual for Lin, a 23-year old McGill University graduate living in Montreal.   

"Nothing," she told CBC News as she tried the number again. "There is not even a dial tone. I can try again, but it's going to be the same thing."

She said she hasn't been able to reach anyone in Burma by e-mail either. Her mother happened to be in Rangoon the day the cyclone hit.

"I'm pretty sure she should be OK," Lin said. "I haven't heard anything, so it's not 100 per cent certain, but I'm praying and hoping that she will be OK."