"As the world was holding its breath in anticipation of the upcoming national referendum on the draft constitution in Myanmar (scheduled on May 10, 2008), a powerful tropical storm by the name of Nargis swept across the southern part of the country, submerging much of the Ayeyarwardy Delta and ravaging coastal Yangon. The force of nature not only devastated the lives of many people as a vast expanse of farmland became inundated and millions of houses were flattened, but the cyclone also produced in its aftermath fresh ripples in international relations. As the death toll climbed and the scale of devastation continued to unfold, international media attention quickly focused on humanitarian aid to the country. Speculation arose about whether the military government would accept international relief, and whether the referendum would be put on hold in the wake of the natural disaster..."