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Burma appeal set to be launched | Burma appeal set to be launched |
(about 2 hours later) | |
UK aid agencies are expected to launch a joint appeal later to raise funds for the victims of Burma's cyclone. | |
The death toll from the storm is now believed to be more than 22,000, with another 41,000 missing. Thousands more have no clean water or shelter. | The death toll from the storm is now believed to be more than 22,000, with another 41,000 missing. Thousands more have no clean water or shelter. |
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is considering an appeal similar to that launched after the 2004 tsunami. | The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is considering an appeal similar to that launched after the 2004 tsunami. |
The UK government has already pledged £5m in aid for survivors of the cyclone, which hit Burma on Saturday. | |
The storm, which brought winds of up to 120mph and caused a huge tidal surge, is already being seen as the worst natural disaster in East Asia since the Boxing Day tsunami more than three years ago. | The storm, which brought winds of up to 120mph and caused a huge tidal surge, is already being seen as the worst natural disaster in East Asia since the Boxing Day tsunami more than three years ago. |
Prices soar | Prices soar |
Several British organisations have already made their own pleas for donations to help ease food shortages and to provide other emergency supplies. | |
Save the Children has called for £5m from supporters, while World Vision said it needed to raise £1.5m. | Save the Children has called for £5m from supporters, while World Vision said it needed to raise £1.5m. |
Oxfam has released £250,000 from its funds and put a team on standby to travel to the country. | Oxfam has released £250,000 from its funds and put a team on standby to travel to the country. |
The British Red Cross has also released £30,000 and said it had 17,000 volunteers from Burma on the ground handing out cooking and hygiene kits, drinking water and mosquito nets through its affiliate, the Myanmar Red Cross. | The British Red Cross has also released £30,000 and said it had 17,000 volunteers from Burma on the ground handing out cooking and hygiene kits, drinking water and mosquito nets through its affiliate, the Myanmar Red Cross. |
The DEC is an umbrella organisation of 13 humanitarian aid charities, including Save the Children, Oxfam and the British Red Cross. | |
It launches and coordinates responses to major disasters overseas, and is expected to make an announcement on an appeal for Burma later. | |
Access problems | Access problems |
Almost all of the deaths from the Burma cyclone occurred in the country's Irrawaddy river delta region, where more people were killed by the tidal wave than the cyclone itself. | Almost all of the deaths from the Burma cyclone occurred in the country's Irrawaddy river delta region, where more people were killed by the tidal wave than the cyclone itself. |
Many of the coastal areas in the area remain cut off due to extensive flooding and road damage. | Many of the coastal areas in the area remain cut off due to extensive flooding and road damage. |
The cyclone also caused massive damage in Burma's former capital, Rangoon, felling trees and cutting power supplies. | The cyclone also caused massive damage in Burma's former capital, Rangoon, felling trees and cutting power supplies. |
Aid agencies are now pushing for immediate access to the affected areas, but correspondents say the military-ruled country, isolated and impoverished, has long been wary of the international community and there are doubts over how much access the government will allow workers. | Aid agencies are now pushing for immediate access to the affected areas, but correspondents say the military-ruled country, isolated and impoverished, has long been wary of the international community and there are doubts over how much access the government will allow workers. |