After landfall in the rice rich Irrawaddy River delta, the storm surged inland to the Rangoon, the former capital city. The results were catastrophic. Cyclone Nargis killed a minimum of 30, 000 people and probably up to 100,000. More than 1.5 million now face dire risk as the threat of starvation and disease stalk this country also known as Myanmar. But when the United Nations and the international community offered a helping hand to the millions of people who need immediate aid, Burma’s rulers instead focused on blocking the humanitarian assistance and volunteers—with deliberately complicated visa entry restrictions and red tape restrictions. Frustration is growing among UN agencies and donors as to how to get aid into the country.

Burma is ruled by a secretive socialist regime who has deliberately played a callous game of self-reliance for two generations at the expense of its citizens. After last September’s peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations by Buddhist monks, the junta predictably cracked down knowing full well that it could blunt the criticism from the UN Security Council. Tough Security Council censure was blocked by Beijing, one of Burma’s oldest and closet allies.

But contrary to the grateful and welcoming response by Indonesia and Thailand following the devastating 2004 Tsunami disaster, Burma instead has only grudgingly allowed aid assistance. Burma’s generals have hermetically closed their country of 55 million to the outside world and would rather micromanage aid through the eye of a needle rather than letting it flow in. The regime fears that contact with the outside world could threaten its control. In fact, by not allowing aid into the stricken areas may cause a political backlash.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon stated, “Given the magnitude of this disaster, the Secretary-General urges the Government of Myanmar to respond to the outpouring of international support and solidarity by facilitating the arrival of aid workers, and the clearance of relief supplies in every way possible. ” He added. “This can significantly aid the Government in responding to this tragedy.” Days later the Secretary General again expressed his “immense frustration” at the way the Burmese rulers were handling the crisis.

Diplomatic moves by France to bring the matter before the UN Security Council, under the humanitarian “responsibility to protect” principle were blocked by communist China. While the Bush Administration, Canada and many European governments have been vocal critics of Myanmar’s military rulers, there’s been an outpouring of humanitarian assistance to help the flood victims from the West. Now UN, relief agencies launched a “flash appeal” for humanitarian aid; so far foreign governments have pledged $77 million in emergency assistance. The United States Navy has offered medical help from ships in the region.

John Holmes, the UN’s Undersecretary-General for humanitarian affairs speaking after an international appeal launch for tropical Nargis victims told correspondents “It has been a frustrating week” but added that he now hopes the “rhythm of aid delivery is picking up.” In the meantime there’s feverish diplomatic activity in the halls of the U.N.

Britain, Burma’s the former colonial ruler offered $10 million for emergency relief European Union $3 million for fast-track humanitarian aid; United States $3 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Australia, $2.8 million in emergency aid to UN, Canada $2 million distributed among the UN, and Germany $775,000. This is just the beginning of a massive humanitarian surge.

Among Asian countries the response is impressive too with Japan offering $10 million, South Korea $2 million in material aid, including tents, medicines and water-purifying chemicals; the People’s Republic of China $500,000 in supplies such as tents, blankets and food; Importantly neighboring Thailand besides a contribution of $100,000 is deploying the Royal Thai Air Force to ferry supplies to the stricken regions. Taiwan’s Buddhist associations sent aid and rescue teams.

“Time is of the essence and we are already reaching storm victims with food. We are mobilizing all possible resources to save lives given the massive disruption in food, water, and shelter caused by this storm,” said World Food Program Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. A wide gamut of UN agencies stands ready to assist immediately.

Still it’s up to the ruling Burmese junta to get out of its political daze and allow a fast track to streamline supplies to the flood stricken region. Ironically both the Burmese dictatorship and foreign friends of Burmese democracy know that this natural tragedy could easily trigger very unpredictable consequences. But by blocking aid to its own people, the thuggish Burmese junta almost guarantees not only misery for its population but its own demise. The clock is ticking.