Since a cyclone devastated much of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), the military government has refused to allow entry to the U.S. and other countries offering disaster aid. Today, authorities there allowed the first United Nations plane to land with disaster relief supplies provided through an international relief effort. But, the U.S. government still has not received permission to fly into the country. The junta’s rejection of US aid may be a reaction to criticism it received from First Lady Laura Bush at a White House press conference on Monday.

Myanmar has been the subject of sanctions by the United States and other western nations for years, in response to Myanmar’s human rights violations. Countries with ongoing relations with Myanmar, including China, and India , have more easily gained access for their disaster relief teams.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, advised the international community to have “patient communication with Myanmar” and “follow the principles of equality and mutual respect.”

The confusion and lack of cooperation in the current crisis suggest that western nations need to do more in advance of a disaster to ensure a cooperative and coordinated disaster response, regardless of the politics involved, although negotiating with the Myanmar junta appears to be unusually challenging.

Numerous U.S. disaster relief agencies are collecting donations for the relief effort. But, with many organizations reporting difficulty getting visas to enter the country, and with the country’s main shipping terminal seriously damaged, it is frequently unclear to potential donors how their donations will be used to help the Burmese people, if ever.