As much as 25 percent of Myanmar cyclone aid lost

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A United Nations official says as much as 25 percent of cyclone relief aid being sent to Myanmar is being lost because of the military government's foreign exchange system. Dan Baker says he's concerned that the losses will upset donors already reluctant to fund the relief effort. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Myanmar says "This is not an issue we can let go by." According to the government's count, the May cyclone killed more than 84,000 people. The aid is intended to help the 2.4 million survivors. Myanmar requires that foreign aid money be converted first into Foreign Exchange Certificates at a set price and then into the country's national currency. But, the certificates have been worth as much as 25 percent less than the market value of an equivalent number of dollars. The U.N. has raised... [read full story]