Burma's refusal to admit international aid personnel into areas affected by a devastating cyclone is in clear breach of international law, Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins has claimed.
Mr Higgins said the military government’s refusal to allow urgent humanitarian assistance into the country contravened the United Nations principle of humanitarian protection.
The principle states that national authorities have the primary duty and responsibility to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction.
Although a small amount of aid has reached the Asian country, relief experts say its represents only a fraction of the humanitarian needs in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, which may have killed 100,000 people and left over a million homeless.
“The abuse of sovereignty by the undemocratic regime in power in Burma creates a test for the international community," Mr Higgins said.
“The basic rights of the Burmese people must be vindicated. Such rights go beyond rights to life and survival itself and include rights to be communicated with by those who wish to come to their assistance at such a time of tragedy as recent events represent."
Government and opposition parties are attempting to formulate an agreed motion condemning the situation in Burma which will be brought before the Dáil next week.
Irish Red Cross relief co-ordinator Joe Lowry has flown to Burma to assist with the emergency operation, the agency said today.
Two Red Cross planes carrying 14 tonnes of tents, tarpaulins and other shelter items have been successfully airlifted to Burma already. These will be used to provide temporary homes for those affected, it added.
Concern warned the true scale of the disaster is still only coming to light as so much of the country remains inaccessible.
Concern’s overseas director Paul O’Brien said: “The longer people have to wait for aid to arrive, the bigger the risk that many more will die, particularly the most vulnerable such as the elderly, young children and those who were already living in extreme poverty,”
Mr O’Brien said it was still trying to secure visas for two members of its emergency response team to enter the country.“We also have staff from Concern operations in Bangladesh and India on stand-by,” he said.
Both Concern and the Irish Red Cross have launched emergency appeals for donations from citizens in Ireland.
The Concern phone number for donations is 1850 410510 or people can log onto to their website at www.concern.net
The Irish Red Cross can be contacted at www.redcross.ieor 1850 50 70 70.