Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

The death toll from cyclone Nargis, according to Myanmar (Burma) state radio, has surpassed 22,000, with over 41,000 still missing.

With a government in place that hasn't the ability or will to coordinate relief efforts, the devastating effects of the cyclone continue to ravage the people of the country.

Government Problems

At this time the government has finally said they'll allow relief aid in, but added that they will distribute it themselves. The distribution decision has caused some countries, like France, to limit aid, as the military-rulers aren't trusted to do what is best for their people by some.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said concerning the $309,000 offered by France: "It's not a lot but we don't really trust the way the Burmese ministry would use the money."

Another problem from the Myanmar government is its extremely slow, and seemingly unwillingness to issue visas quickly to foreign relief groups, making efforts to meet needs even harder. Some U.N. workers still haven't received their visas, let alone organizations from individual countries.

Infrastructure Challenges

Major problems from the cyclone have been the destruction of infrastructure, which makes finding out the extent of the damage very difficult, if not impossible in some circumstances. Problems with roads being destroyed and communications lines down lead the challenges.

Another huge problem is a number of people working for the Red Cross in the country died in the disaster, making it even more difficult to handle the situation.

Scarcity of Information

With roads destroyed, flooding, and communications down, information on certain parts of the country is zero in many instances. Coastal areas especially are needy, as food supplies aren't able to be delivered at this time, with no idea how much is needed or what the circumstance are.

Conclusion

So in one of the greatest disasters in this country's history, you have leadership in place not willing and/or able to respond to the crisis.

You have red tape standing in the way of quick response, which is crucial to saving lives in these types of disasters; infrastructure destroyed with no backup plan in place; and the inability to get crucial information that could help determine the best way to handle the situation.

In other words, everything needed to handle the tragedy successfully is not in place or being done.

Some of those with the ability to improve the situation are being held out of country because of lax and slow response to providing visas to travel within the country.

Everything that could be done wrong from a leadership and management viewpoint has been done wrong by the Myanmar government. It will possibly cost thousands of more lives because of their incompetence and stubborness.

Related Stories:

US: Myanmar junta failed to warn people on cyclone

Myanmar cyclone death toll soars past 22,000: state radio

US offers three million dollars in aid for Myanmar

Relief groups scramble to aid Myanmar