SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Four of the five berths at the port of Thilawa were empty recently, but sacks of rice bound for Bangladesh were being loaded for export, said drivers of at least 10 trucks waiting to deliver more rice to the docks who were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

The decision by the military junta in Myanmar, formerly Burma, to bar foreign aid workers from helping distribute food and relief supplies in the wake of last week's cyclone has caused an outcry from the United Nations and humanitarian groups. However, that stance hasn't stopped the government from continuing to market its rice for export, despite a desperate need for food in the hard-hit Irrawaddy River delta, the newspaper said.

The report quoted villagers near the port as saying government authorities "had handed out rations of rotting rice, apparently from ruined stocks in the port's massive warehouse." The storm destroyed nearly half the stored rice at Thilawa, the chief driver at the facility said.

 BREAKING STORIES

Cuban exiles irked by aid cutoff rule

Tropical Storm Marco hits Mexican coast

Midwest storm damage tops $675 million

Report: Ike costs Houston $6 billion

Death toll from Haiti storms reaches 800

Hurricane leaves dirty water behind

Ike's environmental damage feared serious

Busy October hurricane period is forecast

Wetlands restoration: A false hope?

Ike runs up Texas-size tab of up to $52B

'Cane storm surge data needs improvement

Farm Aid to help those devastated by Ike

Aggies game forces evacuees to move

Ike's winds may hit Texas taxpayers

Johnson Space Center to reopen Monday

Texans hope to use Reliant Stadium Oct. 5

Refinery damage not so bad, official says

Ike may limit Texas beach construction

Gulf Coast refineries weathered Ike well

Ike blamed for at least 28 deaths