WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today released a statement in response to Cyclone Giri’s impact on the Rakhine State of Burma, where relief agencies are reporting widespread damage:
“I offer my condolences for the loss of life and damage caused by Cyclone Giri in the Rakhine State of Burma. The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon has offered prompt disaster relief, and I hope that the Burmese government will accept our offer to provide humanitarian assistance. We saw in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis that with some cooperation from the Burmese government, assistance from the international community can reach those in need and help speed recovery. Life is extremely hard for the Rohingya ethnic group, who bore the brunt of the cyclone’s impact. The United States stands ready to help them recover and rebuild after this devastating natural disaster. My prayers are with the Rohingya and other Burmese affected by this tragedy.”
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