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| Aid call as Burma casualties rise | Aid call as Burma casualties rise |
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| International agencies are pushing to gain access for a massive aid operation in Burma, where the toll from Saturday's cyclone continues to rise. | International agencies are pushing to gain access for a massive aid operation in Burma, where the toll from Saturday's cyclone continues to rise. |
| Up to 15,000 people are said to have died in the disaster, and many more are missing, officials say. | Up to 15,000 people are said to have died in the disaster, and many more are missing, officials say. |
| Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut-off. | Hundreds of thousands of people are said to be without clean water and shelter, with some areas still cut-off. |
| Burma's leaders say they will accept external help, in a move correspondents say reflects the scale of the disaster. | Burma's leaders say they will accept external help, in a move correspondents say reflects the scale of the disaster. |
| The military junta has said it will postpone to 24 May a referendum on a new constitution in areas worst-hit by the cyclone - including the former capital Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta, state television said on Tuesday. | The military junta has said it will postpone to 24 May a referendum on a new constitution in areas worst-hit by the cyclone - including the former capital Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta, state television said on Tuesday. |
| See the path of Cyclone Nargis | See the path of Cyclone Nargis |
| But the vote initially planned for 10 May will proceed as planned in the rest of the country, the report said. | But the vote initially planned for 10 May will proceed as planned in the rest of the country, the report said. |
| 'Catastrophe' | 'Catastrophe' |
| Work is still under way to assess the scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone, which brought winds reaching 190km/h (120mph). | Work is still under way to assess the scale of the devastation caused by the cyclone, which brought winds reaching 190km/h (120mph). |
| Crucial test for juntaIn pictures: Burmese clean-upYour pictures: Rangoon damage | Crucial test for juntaIn pictures: Burmese clean-upYour pictures: Rangoon damage |
| The director for the World Food Programme in Burma, Chris Raye, said information about the destruction in the Irrawady Delta was still emerging, but it was clear it was on a very large scale. | The director for the World Food Programme in Burma, Chris Raye, said information about the destruction in the Irrawady Delta was still emerging, but it was clear it was on a very large scale. |
| "We have a major humanitarian catastrophe in our hands. The numbers of people in need are still to be determined, but I'm sure we're talking of hundreds and thousands," he told the BBC World Service's World Today programme from Rangoon. | "We have a major humanitarian catastrophe in our hands. The numbers of people in need are still to be determined, but I'm sure we're talking of hundreds and thousands," he told the BBC World Service's World Today programme from Rangoon. |
| "The concern that we have is in respect to shelter, water and sanitation. Those are the acute needs which need to be fulfilled as a matter of urgency, and to be able to address those is a prerequisite to ensuring that the humanitarian situation does not deteriorate. | "The concern that we have is in respect to shelter, water and sanitation. Those are the acute needs which need to be fulfilled as a matter of urgency, and to be able to address those is a prerequisite to ensuring that the humanitarian situation does not deteriorate. |
| Andrew Kirkwood, Burma country director for Save the Children, said there were positive signs from the Burmese authorities, who have traditionally been suspicious of aid agencies, limiting their activities. | Andrew Kirkwood, Burma country director for Save the Children, said there were positive signs from the Burmese authorities, who have traditionally been suspicious of aid agencies, limiting their activities. |
| "Every indication is that everyone realises that this is an unprecedented event in Myanmar's [Burma's] history and the government is much more open to international assistance than it has ever been." | "Every indication is that everyone realises that this is an unprecedented event in Myanmar's [Burma's] history and the government is much more open to international assistance than it has ever been." |
| Mr Kirkwood said that responding to the devastation would be a major logistical feat, requiring boats and trucks. | Mr Kirkwood said that responding to the devastation would be a major logistical feat, requiring boats and trucks. |
| 'Dire need' | 'Dire need' |
| In the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region, the storm caused a sea surge that smashed through towns and villages. | In the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region, the storm caused a sea surge that smashed through towns and villages. |
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| Aerial footage of the cyclone aftermath | Aerial footage of the cyclone aftermath |
| "Those areas in the southern part of the Delta - Bogalay, Laputta and Gyapor - were very severely affected, particularly by the storm surge," Mr Raye told the BBC. | "Those areas in the southern part of the Delta - Bogalay, Laputta and Gyapor - were very severely affected, particularly by the storm surge," Mr Raye told the BBC. |
| "And a storm surge in a low-lying area such as that, coupled with very high winds, clearly has served to flatten large areas of that part of the delta, and of course taken villages and villagers with it." | "And a storm surge in a low-lying area such as that, coupled with very high winds, clearly has served to flatten large areas of that part of the delta, and of course taken villages and villagers with it." |
| The storm destroyed roads, downed power lines and flattened houses, leaving people across the region homeless. | The storm destroyed roads, downed power lines and flattened houses, leaving people across the region homeless. |
| "Reports are coming out of the delta coast, particularly the Irrawaddy region, that in some villages up to 95% of houses have been destroyed," said Matthew Cochrane of the International Red Cross. | "Reports are coming out of the delta coast, particularly the Irrawaddy region, that in some villages up to 95% of houses have been destroyed," said Matthew Cochrane of the International Red Cross. |
| Prices of food, fuel and basic necessities have also risen dramatically in the wake of the storm, putting more people at risk. | Prices of food, fuel and basic necessities have also risen dramatically in the wake of the storm, putting more people at risk. |
| 'No warning' | 'No warning' |
| Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN would do "whatever [necessary] to provide urgent humanitarian assistance". | Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN would do "whatever [necessary] to provide urgent humanitarian assistance". |
| A shipment of aid from Thailand is due to arrive on Tuesday and India is sending two naval vessels. | A shipment of aid from Thailand is due to arrive on Tuesday and India is sending two naval vessels. |
| DEADLIEST RECENT STORMS Hurricane Katrina, US, 2005 - at least 1,836 deadOrissa Cyclone, 1999, Northern India - at least 10,000 deadHurricane Mitch, 1998, Central America - at least 11,000 deadTyphoon Thelma, 1991, Philippines - 6,000 deadBangladesh cyclone, 1991 - about 138,000 deadBhola cyclone, 1970 - at least 300,000 dead Timeline: Major tropical cyclones | DEADLIEST RECENT STORMS Hurricane Katrina, US, 2005 - at least 1,836 deadOrissa Cyclone, 1999, Northern India - at least 10,000 deadHurricane Mitch, 1998, Central America - at least 11,000 deadTyphoon Thelma, 1991, Philippines - 6,000 deadBangladesh cyclone, 1991 - about 138,000 deadBhola cyclone, 1970 - at least 300,000 dead Timeline: Major tropical cyclones |
| The US has also offered to increase aid offered if Burma agrees to allow a US team access to assess the situation. | The US has also offered to increase aid offered if Burma agrees to allow a US team access to assess the situation. |
| First Lady Laura Bush, who takes a special interest in Burma, urged Burma to accept $250,000 (£126,000) already allocated for emergency aid, and said more would be available if the team was allowed into the country. | First Lady Laura Bush, who takes a special interest in Burma, urged Burma to accept $250,000 (£126,000) already allocated for emergency aid, and said more would be available if the team was allowed into the country. |
| But she accused the Burmese authorities of failing to give a "timely warning" about the approaching storm. | But she accused the Burmese authorities of failing to give a "timely warning" about the approaching storm. |
| In Rangoon, residents complained that the government response to the disaster has been weak. | In Rangoon, residents complained that the government response to the disaster has been weak. |
| "The government misled people," one grocery store owner told the Associated Press news agency. "They could have warned us about the severity of the coming cyclone so we could be better prepared." | "The government misled people," one grocery store owner told the Associated Press news agency. "They could have warned us about the severity of the coming cyclone so we could be better prepared." |
| Return to link | Return to link |
| Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below. | Are you in Burma, or do you have friends and family there? Have you - or they - been affected by the cyclone? Send your comments and pictures using the post form below. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |